Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As much as he hated standing out, hated how easy it was to gawk at him because of his height (because he did stand out, thanks to whatever deity saw fit to have him grow like a beansprout of old and not stop until much past reasonable), he had to admit- being tall was quite useful for times like these, walking on a long path that would have winded others of his age and fitness whether or not they were carrying as much as he did right then.

"I do apologize," said the man ahead of him. His gold eyes gleamed as he glanced back. "The transfer application came rather suddenly, you see, and the date was mixed up in the recent affairs-"

"Oh no, it's quite alright. I understand completely. It is a hassle, isn't it? Coming here like this in the middle of the schoolyear."

Headmage Crowley hummed at his humility as he looked ahead. "We are quite pleased to have you though, Mr. Graves. Once we have everything ready and you're properly sorted, you'll be able to access your proper dormitory through the Hall of Mirrors. A much nicer, shorter stroll."

"I'll look forward to it." Now he said that, but frankly, he wasn't minding the walk that much. The campus seemed like a pleasant place to be. The intermediary dorm didn't sounds too bad, even if Crowley said he had to bear with it as though it were as terrible as its name implied.

He was very right, and Crowley very wrong. Walking through the school had felt rather soothing, almost familiar. Trudging up that overgrown hill? Actually entering Ramshackle? Now that. . . it felt like home. Odd.

"You!" the headmage called.

He startled upright. Goodness, had the headmage said something, had he been daydreaming-?

"Headmaster?"

The voice came from a head peeking from a doorway. He blinked at the figure. The figure blinked back with eyes that made something in his chest ache. Fatigue must have finally caught up to him, because he suddenly found himself short of breath.

". . .Yuu."

That was their name, wasn't it? He knew it. He heard it from Crowley but he knew-

"Skully?"

The headmage's hands clasped together. "Oh! Do you two know each other?"

Yuu blinked again. Was it just him, or did their eyes seem damp? . . .were his? Why did-?

"No it's-" Yuu frowned, they brushed a lock of hair from their face, and whatever stupor they were in with it.  They looked irritated then- "Headmaster you know I'm not-"

The mage's smile seemed to stiffen. "Right. And I am doing my best to resolve that matter still, I assure you."

Yuu sighed. Their eyes flickered back to him, before turning away. "Sorry, for staring.  He- you, I mean, you uh. . it's just. . .has anyone ever told you that you look like- well his hair's white and not black but- you look like sort of like. . .the King of Halloween?"

. . .ah. Of course.

Headmage Crowley beamed. "How astute of you, Yuu! There is a resemblance to that portait, now that you mention it."

"I have been told that, yes." He stretched his lips into a toothless smile. "I am a Graves. Named after him too, perhaps."

"And we are glad to have another Skully Graves here at Night Raven, aren't we, Yuu? Skully here will be staying Ramshackle for a few days."

"You didn't tell me about this."

"I didn't?" The man tapped his chin. "Well, I'm certain you'll be able to treat him well regardless. It's only temporary anyhow- once all the paperwork is in order, the Dark Mirror will be scrying his soul's magic and he'll be out of your hair."

". . .I see." What enthusiasm.

He felt a clawed hand pat his shoulder. "I'll leave you to it then!"

The mage vanished, his cape flapping behind him as the door shut.

"Useless crow."

He blinked and stared at Yuu. They smiled more cheerfully, as though they hadn't muttered a thing, as though he weren't a thing foisted upon them. 

"Well, you heard the headmaster. Welcome to Ramshackle. I'm Yuu, pleased to meet you."

They extended a hand, and he dropped his bags to greet them. The hand was as warm as their smile in his fingers, against his lips-

Wait. Oh dear oh spirits why did he-

They stared at him. He stared back, warmth flooding his cheeks. This wasn't- this was Sage Island and Night Raven College, even back at home doing that to say hello was archaic at best-

He straightened up. "I-I, I'm so sorry I-"

Yuu let out a laugh. It sounded sweet. It made his chest ache, again.

"I should have dressed better for this." For some reason, his imagination conjured a vision of them in a dress of black and white patchwork, lovely as a doll. Instead of wiping their hand (which he was still holding onto also for some inexplicable reason), they brought it to their own lips as they tipped their head.

Their eyes twinkled up at him. "That how you do it?"

"I-I. . .yes." Was his voice always that small?

They let go then. He had the presence of mind to use a hand to stop the one that reached out for them. In exchange, fate saw fit to turn him into the rudest sluggard to ever grace the land. Yuu was lifting some of his bags, which may have been proper hosting behavior but those were large and heavy and they were smaller than him-

"Oh, you don't have to-!"

"I'd like to. Supposed to treat you well, yeah? We have a bunch of clean rooms on the second floor. If Ace and Deuce come along, they can share one of the others. You're lucky you came here so late, we just got the water and lights running right."

He found his panic smoothing over at their words, their voice. "Is that so? That's a shame."

"A shame?"

"Staying up late with nothing but candlelight would have added a certain ambiance to place, don't you think?"

Another laugh. It was sweet, bright, familiar in a way it couldn't be. Perhaps it was magic. Maybe that's why the Headmage left him to them. "Ambulances, maybe. We already have one fire hazard a-"

"Henchman!"

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear."

A blur of blue and gray came skidding to a stop at the foot of the stairs. "Who ya callin' a devil?!"

"A handsome devil!" Yuu replied. Sure enough, the thing was on fire. Or its ears were, anyway.

"Hmph! Well, this devil says he's finishin' the noodles if ya don't come back!"

"Hungry bastard," Yuu muttered beneath their breath, but their eyes were full of fondness. "Fine! But you're not getting any next time!"

"What? Nooooooo-"

"Yesssssss," Yuu said back, "I'll be down in a bit anyway, just helping our guest settle in-"

"Guest?"

Skully leaned closer, over their shoulder, peering past the railing too, fluttering his fingers. "Hello!"

Grim reeled back, eyes wide and he tumbled to his back. Oh dear.

He raised a shaky paw. His mouth flapped open and close.

Yuu leaned aside to give Grim a better view, which meant they leaned a little into him and made his heart pound more than it had any right to. What was with him? Was this what a heart attack felt like? He was only sixteen, this was no age for heart conditions-!

"This is Skully," they said. "Skully Graves. Skully, Grim. That little fuzzball and me are your housemates for now. Also the Ghosts, but they might not feel like coming out until sundown."

". . . I'm sorry, ghosts?"

"Yeah. They're fun. Might do a prank here and there, but they're harmless. Anyway, back to getting your things in. Sorry, I'm a bit scatterbrained-"

"Oh don't worry, it's my fault for intruding."

They paused. "You're not. Not intruding, I mean. It will be nice to have someone else around here, even if it's just for a bit."

They took up the bags they had dropped when talking to Grim and he cursed himself for not seizing them when he had the chance. That must be why he watched their hand so intently then, why his own hand itched to hold something. He adjusted his glasses and crossed his arms, squeezing himself to be rid of the feeling.

"I think it will be nice to be here, even if it's just for a while."

They glanced back to beam at him as he followed, and there was that curling, clawing thing around his heart, squeezing it like a skeletal hand.  He looked away to not think about it, to instead take in the charming, if aged, decor. His eyes returned to the stairs and railing briefly, and he stopped, for a moment, until Yuu called for him from his new room.

He was a bit scatterbrained too. Surely, he hadn't known Grim's name until Yuu told him.

Chapter Text

The Ghosts weren't nearly as terrifying as he thought they'd be. Other than how they greeted him, anyway.

He had nodded off in the midst of his unpacking, fatigued from the trip to Night Raven, and awoke to a chilly room, dead eyes, and a gaping maw over his head.

He may have screamed.

Yuu burst into the room then, stern and scolding, and the Ghosts had the decency to look ashamed. They apologized. He watched them go, their heads hanging, and he had to admit, they didn't look so frightening like that.

"Sorry about them," Yuu sighed. "They like to spook intruders, and Crowley didn't exactly. . .y'know. I swear I would have warned them if they came through the front-"

"I-it's a fine security system-" He held a hand over his chest, as though that could help steady his heart.  "I'm sure they keep Ramshackle very safe. "

They looked so concerned. "Are you alright with seeing them around? I could ask them to-"

"Oh no, please don't trouble them or yourself on my account. I'm only a guest here. I'm just- I'm not used to them, I suppose."

"Neither was I when I came here. I didn't think ghosts were real and Crowley didn't mention this place was haunted, so they scared me half to death. They didn't even do anything that scary! They just appeared, and I was ready to jump out the window."

". . .did you?"

"I tried. Tripped though, and started just, bawling and saying I didn't want to die. They felt so bad! Cecil- oh Cecil's the one who did the I'm-gonna-eat-you thing by the way- he helped me up and Amos- that's the lean one- he got a handkerchief from who-knows where but it had dust so it made me cry harder,  and Bede just started trying to console me, but his hands were cold so it just freaked me out more and I probably looked like an even bigger scaredy-cat. It was whole mess! Grim's never gonna let me forget it."

"I don't think I can either, now." He wouldn't forget how they told the tale at least, gesturing as they did with laughter and fondness in their eyes and voice. At some point, they'd gone from standing awkwardly in the doorway to sitting beside him on the bed as they spun the story, and it hadn't felt strange at all.

They leaned in, voice a near-whisper. "You better not tell that to anyone else."

"And if I do?"

A playful retort, but the blank look they gave made him pause, an apology and assurance at the tip of his tongue-

Then they gasped so great it must have been in jest. "You wouldn't dare!"

He recovered quick.

"Wouldn't I ? " Now he leaned in, grinning. "Maybe I want some sweet retribution for the rude welcome-"

"Maybe I should ask the Ghosts to haunt you."

"Oh my! I guess I don't have a choice then."  He pinched the air and drew a line over his mouth. "My lips are sealed, dear Yuu."

They gave him an odd look, and did he really just call them dear oh Greats what was wrong with him-

They reached over and did not slap him, but rather grabbed his raised hand. They twisted the imaginary zipper within a few degrees, then plucked the imaginary key from his fingers to toss out the window.

"Now they're sealed," they declared, and because he was of unsound mind and body, he followed the spindle-spell of playfulness that pricked at him.

"Mhm," he hummed. "Mhmm hmm hmm mmhmm hmhm."

Yuu raised an eyebrow. He did too.

He hummed some more, then let his eyes go wide. He turned an accusing finger at them, mhmming furiously like a man with his mouth glued shut. Their face cracked up as he mimed most emphatically, gesturing at the window, at the thrown key to his voice. He leaned closer and closer as they put their hands up, and Yuu was snickering as they got the nearby pillow to whack it at him. He hmmhm-ed in utter indignation as he fell back, arms crossed over his chest like a corpse in a casket as he wore the most profound expression of betrayal he could muster.

Murder ! he cried, how could you?!, but it came more as "Hrmhrmm! Hmhmhm?!"

That won him a snort.

He hummed a chain that would have translated to You're laughing. You've murdered a man and you're laughing.

"Oh don't be dramatic, I don't even have magic!"

"You don't?"

Yuu was standing now.  He realized then, the possible rudeness of the question, and felt rather like smothering himself with the pillow-

"No," Yuu replied, and he couldn't tell if they were upset about it, with how plain and practiced the syllable sounded "Anyway, what was I-? Ah right. The point."

"The point?"

"The point," they nodded, very businesslike. "Yes, the point! If you don't do well with ghosts, I could ask them to hold back. I spent the first few weeks here not seeing them. We just talked through notes everywhere until I stopped being so scared. They won't take offense, I promise. They can hold off spooking you until you're out of here."

"Ah," he said. Right. This was temporary. The room. The Ghosts. Yuu too. The warmth that had filled his skin and bones at the play of muteness was temporary too, leaving him lying on his back against cool sheets. . .he was only started to get settled in to Ramshackle. Why was he missing it already?

"Sorry for shoving you."

He blinked.

Yuu was standing over him, smiling apologetically, offering a hand to pull him up. "You just got here, you must be tired-"

"Not at all!" he said, springing up, grasping their hands in his own. "I'm glad to have such a splendid host! I feel much more at ease now. The Ghosts do seem like good spirits at heart- gentlemen, even, if they've been so understanding. I wouldn't mind getting to know them while I'm here."

"Cool," Yuu smiled. "Anyway, um-"

He felt them pull their hands and he quickly let go. They rubbed their wrists and wrung their fingers (did he grasp them too tight? Were his hands sweaty? Cold?) and turned to the door.

"We'll have dinner around six. We usually eat in the kitchen- that's the room you saw me come out of, earlier. Do you have any allergies or other stuff that can kill you that I should know of?"

They had a strand of hair that was falling into their face. He kept his hands politely to himself. "I'm fine with anything."

"Great!. . .see you later then?"

They were only making sure he'd be present at dinner. They were only doing their job as a host. . .yet there was a look in their eyes that seemed fit for a situation more sombre, the kind of look his family had when he set off for Night Raven.

(Mother had held him tighter than he could ever remember. I don't know why, but I feel like you might not come back.)

"Of course," he said, and he felt terribly sorry. He must have taken too long to respond, that must be why- "Of course. I'll be right here when you return."

Yuu smiled. It made him feel worse, somehow, and he looked away. Dinner at six. He should set his phone so-

"Ah I mean, of course I'll be there at dinner. There in the kitchen. For dinner." There must be something wrong with him, to not answer their question right or right away. "I'll be there at six! I can find my way around Ramshackle, you don't have to fetch me from the room, or anything-"

They chuckled and kindly left without looking at his fumbling self or feverish face. "Alright. See you at six, Skully!"

"See you! Yuu!" Why was he shouting so loud? He could hear his voice echo through the old building.

Once the footsteps faded away, Skully sat back down on his bed.

He set his glasses aside, took a pillow, then proceeded to scream into it for a good half-minute.

After, he stayed sitting on the bed, head propped upon hands propped upon pillow. He glared at the empty air.

"This is your fault, you know," he said to the nothingness from whence the sudden friendliness within him sprung.

The nothingness, rudely, did not reply, leaving him to deal with whatever impression Yuu had of him now on his lonesome. With a groan, he took up his glasses and resumed unpacking.

He could be normal. He could be normal for a dinner. He could be very normal for a few days. He has known Yuu for a few hours at most. One does not act so casually nor familiarly to someone who should be a stranger. He never had, back at home.

For sixteen years of his life, he had been an entirely unremarkable fellow, if magically gifted. He acted politely as anyone with a name like Graves should in the hometown of the King of Halloween. He'd done nothing unordinary until he heard Night Raven College in some passing news, and fell into some half-mad rabbithole of documents and policies that ended with him to transferring to NRC at once like a man possessed.

He had, ostensibly, come here because it was a prestigious college. His teachers and family believed it easily enough, and he did too. He had no better reason why he should change schools, though some in the town whispered of great things that could come from another Graves in Night Raven.

Whatever the reason, it shouldn't include embarrassing himself in front of his poor, patient host. 

He sighed as he looked over his things. It was probably enough for a week. No point unpacking it all just yet.

He could be normal, and when it made him grin to bump into Yuu on the stairs as he was going down and they were going up to get him, that was very normal. And when his heart leapt all over again as he grabbed them before they could trip the last few steps from not looking where they walked but instead up at him as they chatted on the stairs (the joy and relief from which there was a very normal amount of because they were a very nice person and he just saved them from a fall and/or concussion), that was very normal too.

Chapter Text

What Ramshackle lacked in amenities, Yuu made up for in utter sincerity.

Perhaps he was biased from his own inexperience- despite the group projects and family business and the invitations to many a home to spend many a night in abodes other than his own, he rarely accepted the chance to be a guest. Still, Yuu's hospitality seemed particularly warm, especially considering the suddenness of having to sharing a roof with another living person. From going out of their way to get "better stuff" from the cafeteria for dinner to carefully going through the classes and lesson plans to assess what he'd covered in his last school and where he needed catching up, they'd been nothing but helpful. As unprofessional as the headmaster seemed, he had to agree that he was in good hands here.

Grim and the Ghosts seemed like good company too. At any rate, the monster was pleased to have another henchman, and the Ghosts were sweet to Yuu, which meant they were at the very least being apologetically amicable to him for their sake.

The whole time, Yuu was patient and friendly. The whole time, he did his best to stay polite and keep his hands to himself. No handsiness or overt staring here, no sir! (He must have adjusted his glasses once or a dozen or a hundred times, redirecting his energies. He still found himself bothered by that little lock of hair that fell into Yuu's face whenever they shifted even a little until they fixed it themself.)

He also apologized plenty. They brushed it off every time and reassured that it was no trouble, that they didn't mind, until at last he wore out their patience and they looked sternly up at him.

"Skully, sit down."

He stared blankly at their tone, suddenly devoid of softness. They'd been in the living room, they'd gotten through at least half the notes he had to, and were at the doorway to each retire to their rooms when he apologized for taking their time to help him.

They gestured at the couch. "Sit."

. . .well, he couldn't very well refuse after all they've done, could he?

He sat down, and they moved to stand in front of him. They firmly planted their hands on his shoulders, and as they looked him in the eye, he wondered if their must neck must be sore from having looking up at him for so long

"Skully. I'm telling you. I don't mind having you here. I'm glad to help, I really am. If I'm annoyed at anyone, it's the birdbrain running the school for not doing his job right. Okay?"

I'm sorry, he wanted to say then, and he really had been saying that a lot hadn't he? He'd been feeling a little wretched since the room really, and apologizing for every little slight seemed right though it didn't help. That wasn't right, was it? The word wouldn't mean a thing when he'd need it to, if he kept this up.

So instead, he tried to say sorry through through his eyes, and what left his mouth was, "Alright, Yuu."

"Great!"

They started to move away, and what a terrible thing it was, to have decided to stop saying sorry then of all times, because he rudely grabbed their hand.

They looked at him curiously, and oh he hated it, the dryness of his throat, how he wanted to say sorry but shouldn't-couldn't-wouldn't-

"Y-you'll have to let me help then!"

"Help?"

"Yes! See-" He stood. Let go of their hand let go of their hand let go of their hand- "I can't have you running around on my behalf. You're a host, not a servant. I'm happy that you've been so hospitable, but I'd like to help too. I didn't come here to be waited hand and foot, you know."

They raised an eyebrow, amused. "I just brought you dinner and shared notes?"

"The cafeteria's quite far isn't it? I mean, with a broom it'd be easier, but you don't have magic, so you must have walked the whole way."

". . .I didn't think you'd notice that."

He let out an incredulous laugh. "Yuu, you have to make a whole bloody U past Mainstreet and the Hall of Mirrors and the botanical garden just to get here from the main building! I walked that great, horrible U to get here!"

They rubbed the back of their neck, fiddling with a chain around it. "It wasn't really that much trouble, I was doing other things too! Returning some library books, getting some groceries from Sam's-"

"But wouldn't it be faster to fly?"

"I don't mind walking, honest! Also I uh- um . . ."

He looked at them expectantly.

"I'm just . . .a little. . .not your fault, I trust that you're confident in your flying skills for a reason! I'm just. . .I'mscaredofheightsso-"

"Hold on hold on, so it's a matter of preference?"

". . .yes?"

"So you'd choose to walk no matter what?"

"Hey! Can't people scared of elevators choose the stairs?"

"You're scared of elevators?"

"What? No, that was just an example-"

"I'm sure some people scared of elevators would choose a lift if they had choose that or a hundred flights!"

"Well it's not a hundred flights it's just- a few thousand steps, probably. Besides, I'm used to it-"

"You shouldn't be! What kind of person sets someone without the means or desire to fly somewhere as remote as-!"

Yuu was smiling at him. It was a tired smile.

". . .useless crow?"

"Useless crow. Don't call him that out loud though. You just got here. Wouldn't want to get in trouble."

He scoffed. "The ghosts aren't gonna tattle on us, are they?"

". . .I guess not." A more sincere smile. Their hand was at their nape again.

"Shall we sit? I worry that your neck may give out if we keep talking like this."

They let out a soft laugh as they did. They must have been tired. He sat down beside them and slouched a bit, because they were the awfully nice sort of person who looked at him and paid attention when he spoke, and he ought to meet them halfway.

"This whole thing seems terribly unfair. You said you didn't even have proper plumbing or electricity until recently?"

"It was functional! Mostly. Usually. I shouldn't expect special treatment, anyway. I'm a magicless student at a magic school."

He frowned. If anything, they should have gotten some sort of treatment for equity. "Not that I have any objections to you being here- I'm glad to meet you! But why are you at Night Raven College, if I may ask?"

They shrugged. "Couldn't say. But I ended up here. Something about Ebony Carriages and coffins and magical misfiring, if I had to guess. It's not like I'm totally magicless- I have Grim! We're half a student each, we attend classes as one whole probably-functional magical student. He provides the magic, I provide the. . .rest? Opposable thumbs."

Their cheer as they shot him two thumbs up was not nearly as contagious as they likely meant for it to be.

"That still seems very unfair."

They smiled. "No use complaining about it- I'm basically a charity case. It's probably good I stay away from other other students anyway."

"Is that what the Headmaster told you?"

"Hmm? Oh, no it's- it's just the case, probably. If anything, it's probably for the best that I'm out here in Ramshackle. Nobody's going to pick on me or pick fights near me. Grim and I haven't gotten defensive magic down that well yet-"

"You don't have to be nice to me."

Only then did their pleasant expression drop. "Where's this coming from?"

"You must feel indebted to the Headmaster for letting you stay. You don't have to be nice to me just because he told you too. I assure you, I can take care of myself just fine-"

"Hey. Hey, no. I'm happy to have you here! I told you so, didn't I?"

I don't understand how you can be.

"You've been very polite and fun to talk to. And look at it this way- with you around, people won't call me Prefect for nothing. I'll have one minion now!"

He managed a chuckle. "You're Grim's henchman though, aren't you? What does that make me, a minion's minion?"

"A grand minion," they said sagely.

"What an honor, to be the first Grand Minion of Ramshackle Dormitory-"

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine! You've been such a pleasure in fact, that I think I'll miss you quite a bit when I'm minionless, even if Crowley comes to take you away tomorrow."

He couldn't tell what was worse: whether they were lying to be kind, or if they truly meant it, and that they were going to miss his company because then they would be left with nobody in all of Ramshackle but Grim and the Ghosts. He was rather sure it was the latter. He sort of selfishly wished it were the latter.

He got up and held an arm over his chest as he bowed deep at the waist. "Well this Grand Minion hopes to be of some use while he's here."

"And this Regular Minion would be glad to have it!. . .not with flying though."

"Flying? Never heard of it."

"Better that you haven't- it's this thing for birds and bugs and planes and people who don't fear plummeting to death as a splatter. "

"Such wisdom!" He offered his hand. "May this Grand Minion help you up?"

They took it with a grin. They both headed for the doorway for the second time to properly retire to their rooms for tonight, and this time, he let go at once. . .but only because he had a far worse urge. At least this time he'd be asking first, right?

Once Yuu was escorted to the door of their room, he took a deep breath. "I hope this isn't rude of me, but, well. . ."

"But?"

He fixed his glasses. They were smiling patiently at him. "Do feel free to decline, I know we barely know each other, but it seems you've had some trying times so-" On with it, out with it man!

He opened his arms. He opened his mouth. "May I offer you a hu- oomph! "

It was a tight, warm embrace. It felt nice, which wasn't supposed to be the point here. He hope it felt nice for Yuu too, gave some kind of comfort no matter how small, when he wrapped his spindly, bony arms around them and they stayed where they were.

Somewhere below him, Yuu mumbled. "Your Grandmaster Grim gives these as a benefit to his minions too. Very warm, very fluffy, but he's a little lacking in the arm department, as I'm sure you can tell."

"I think he could do it around the neck."

A giggle. "And throttle me a little, yeah. The Ghosts try but. . .well, it's not very easy, for them."

"I can imagine."

"I'm not a hermit, just so you know. I do have friends! Corporeal ones. They're just. . ."

Busy. Not here. Prideful, if his research was anything to go by. He thought he could be the same, that he'd fit in once he was in Night Raven. Apparently not, when it came to things like this.

Yuu shifted and when he looked down, they were smiling up at him. "Thank you, Skully."

"Anytime, Yuu."

As nice as it was, they both had to sleep and he was not so deranged as to offer to share a bed. (Not yet, anyway. Hopefully he'd never be, or he might as well as start digging a grave to join the ones on the hill). Yuu untangled themself with what he hoped was as much reluctance as he did, because otherwise his own hesitance would have been very awkward.

Yuu hummed. "Anytime, you say? Then you better not get mad if I call you when you're not in Ramshackle anymore!"

He held a hand over his chest. "Fear not, this Grand Minion is a man of his word."

They laughed as they waved. "Good night, Skully."

"Sweet dreams, Yuu."

With a final, brilliant smile, they closed the door behind them. His own smile, which he apparently wore all the way until he reached his room and looked at the mirror, looked like the dopiest thing in the world.

"This is normal," he said.

His reflection's eyes didn't look like they believed him.

"Bah, what do you know?"

They both dropped their smiles as he headed for bed. 

Chapter Text

How long had he been wandering?

A strange book, a strange place. . .

And now, strange people. Well, as strange as he himself must look, since they seemed to be wearing the same sort of attire of patterns and patchwork in elegant monochrome that he was. He'd rather not think about who changed them into their clothes, or who changed him into his. . .hopefully it was magic. That book must have been magic, or he's having the oddest dream right now.

He sighed in relief though. At least he wasn't alone in this quaint forest. He carefully stepped around the bodies, each one as asleep as he was before he waked and started walking. How odd, that they were all together. He was certain he was surrounded by other students when he opened that book. . .

Well, it wasn't like being alone was unusual for him. How fortunate for these fellows, if they were all companions.

. . .it was a little unnerving, looming above all the sleepers, just watching them. They were probably just asleep, they were all breathing, it seemed. . .oh?

None of them looked to be having particularly pleasant dreams, but this one-

He knelt beside the poor thing. Even unconscious, they seemed to be curling close to themself. There were shadows etched deep beneath their eyes, just like his own. Their hands were in an unfortunate state too, some nails bitten to the quick, some odd shapes upon the skin like stains on rough canvas. A thick scar, pale but present and certainly a few months old at best, carved its way across their cheek, and when he brushed back the hair from their face, the mark trailed almost to their ear. 

Save for perhaps the beastman with the eyepatch, none of the others seemed to be anywhere near such a state. This one seemed to be on the younger side of the group too, and while not the smallest, they were definitely weaker, their magic practically imperceptible where the others' thrummed vibrantly.

He frowned. Perhaps they were all strangers, but if they weren't, then could they have. . .?

. . .no no no, it would be rude to make assumptions. People can be cruel regardless of the age, but certainly none could be so heartless as to do this much to anyone. This one could simply be clumsy, or have some other condition causing their sorry state. At any rate. . .

He sat down beside the stranger, and he carefully lifted them to lie upon his lap, the crook of his arm a pillowing cradle for their head. That had to be a little more comfortable than the ground. It was hard to tell where the sun was in this place, if it had one, but he seemed able to put his tall self to use and give the stranger a little shade. He watched their chest rise and fall, and he waited.

He waited, and waited.

He didn't know how long he stayed like that, the only one sitting upright in the midst of sleeping bodies like a scarecrow in a field, hoping the stranger sleeping on him was capable of waking, but at last, the body below him shifted on its own.

Eyelids twitched and fluttered open, then flickered far too close to closed again for comfort. He opened his mouth, a soft greeting ready-

"I'd say good morning, but I don't think you had one."

Above him was a face. Yuu's face. 

No, no, that wasn't right, wasn't he just looking down at them? They were looking down at him though, where he lay sprawled upon the sofa. The sun shone through the foyer window, a halo of light behind their head as blue light illuminated it from below-

"Skully?" 

He blinked, more awake. They were still there. 

". . .Y uu ? "  He cringed. Oh. Oh he sounded like a frog. 

They chuckled. "Morning, sleepyhead."

"Morning," he croaked. 

Below Yuu's face (unblemished, unmarked, why wouldn't it be?) was that of little Grim's, all blue-eyed and impish.

"Up and at it, Grand Minion! If you pass out, we ain't comin' back for ya!"

He blinked owlishly at them, then brought the back of his hand to his head, like a fainting dame. "Oh how terrible! My-" he yawned " first day as a Minion and I'm sleeping on the job! What a terrible impression I've made on my Grand Boss-"

"Give me tuna and I'll forget all about it!"

He stared at the cat, eager. "You accept bribes?"

"Grim, be nice."

"I am nice! I'm the nicest boss there ever was!"

Yuu rolled their eyes and dipped their head, a quick kiss pressed to Grim's fuzzy skull. "You are. But give all my niceness pay to Skully for a while, alright? He's not gonna be your Grand Minion for long. You've got to leave a good impression so all the people he meets will know how great and awesome a boss you are. Think of all the new henchmen that will flood in!"

Grim purred in thoughts and daydreams for a few moments, then his face turned smug and squished. "Alright, Scoli-"

"Skully," he said, just as Yuu did-

"-you got yourself a deal!"

His limbs cracked a bit, as he stretched upon the sofa. "A deal for what, exactly?"

"I be nice, you bring in more henchman when ya leave!"

"Does the new henchman have to stay?" He pulled himself up and tried to check if he'd slept himself sore anywhere. "See, I'm only staying here a while. Not very fair for me to tell someone to stay a month where I've only been a week."

Grim actually seemed to think long and hard about it. "Okay," the monster said. "They gotta stay at least as long as you stayed!"

"Excellent! And how about I start with just one? For all you know, I'd be a horrible recruiter and you'll hate everyone I bring in. Maybe I can only bring in the wrong crowd of people."

Grim's little face scrunched up in concentration. "Fine. One henchman, who's gotta stay as long as you stayed! Deal?"

He shook the little paw the monster stuck out. "Deal."

Yuu shook their head. "All this for a good impression? It's not even your first one!"

"Now now Yuu, impressions are very important!"

"Exactly," Grim nodded. "Totally worth it."

Yuu sighed fondly and leaned toward towards him, tiptoeing. He dutifully lowered his head as they whispered in his ear, "Well now we've both sold our souls to a handsome devil."

He made a face most aghast. "I don't remember souls being a part of the deal-"

"No takebacks!" Grim crowed. "You're all soul, aren't ya?"

"Grim," Yuu said, dropping Grim unceremoniously upon the couch so they could look him in the eye,( it seemed that piece of furniture was the designated scolding spot)- "Skully is not a ghost."

Grim turn from them to squint at him with such skepticism he couldn't help but glance down at himself. He promptly straightened his clothes, because he had just lain down for a few winks that turned into a few hours and was still in the clothes he wore throughout yesterday's travel and arrival. He straightened his ascot. "I know I'm a bit pale, but don't you think I'm too solid to be a spirit?"

"Nah, you look like a ghost!"

Yuu angled themself so they were looking up at him from the angle Grim was. 

". . .he is very tall," Yuu said. "And he does look kinda menacing from down here. If you're busy looking up, he almost seems footless and floating. Or is it the eyebags? Those do make him look dead, or undead-"

He sighed. "I'm afraid insomnia's an old friend. The afternoon nap yesterday didn't help either."

"So you wandered around and passed out here on the couch?"

". . .it's a comfortable couch."

"You barely fit in it!"

"Who cares?" Grim cut in. "He still looks like that painting! It's weird and spooky! So, he's a ghost!"

"They're family, of course they look a little alike-"

"He looks like he walked right outta that thing!"

"Well, he didn't, so let's leave that be, okay?"

Yuu's back was to him, with how they were talking to the cat, but Grim's face seemed to lose its haughtiness, looking s-

"Come on, Grim!" Yuu entreated brightly. "I thought you agreed to be nice! It's not nice to tell a guest they look like someone dusty and old and dead-"

He scoffed. "Excuse you, you said I looked-"

"I do excuse myself, as your boss. Your Grand Boss has no regulations on henchman-on-henchman slander."

He sniffed and wiped an invisible tear from his eye. "What a cruel master-"

Grim pouted. "Hey, I thought I was your boss-"

"What a cruel Sub-Boss I have! Nothing like my benevolent Grand Boss Grim!"

"Ya only got yourself to blame! Sould've gone straight to me to get a job!"

"No takebacks!" Yuu chimed, like Grand Boss, like Sub-Boss. "Anyway, are you planning on washing up before we go? We've got breakfast and a long day ahead! But if you're tired-"

"Don't worry about me, I'm ready for whatever the day brings!"

Yuu smiled. He smiled back, and it was a pity he hadn't brought his notepad with him, because he was rather sure he'd jotted all the things and schedules he was supposed to keep track of last night.

". . .do remind me what we were doing again though? I'm afraid this Grand Minion's just a bit out of sorts."

They smiled patiently. "Breakfast first."

"Of course."

"Here at Ramshackle, so we can avoid the great, horrible U."

"Of course." Thank goodness for that.

"And then. . .?" they said leadingly.

"And then. . ." he repeated slowly, helplessly, scrounging his head for memory and finding none. 

They just chuckled and had mercy on him. "I'm giving you a tour of Night Raven College, of course." 

Because Crowley told them to treat him well. Because it might help for him to know the dorms before he leaves for one of them. Because Yuu had friends and plans before he rudely came along. 

He smiled. "Of course."

Chapter Text

"You really lucked out on the date, huh?"

"Because lights and water?"

"No, b- well yeah, that too I guess, but I meant because you came just before the breakday. Gives you a whole day to look around."

Yuu smiled cheerfully beside him as they walked, a drowsy Grim in their arms as they both navigated the half the great, terrible U to the Hall of Mirrors in what they recently dubbed the more mundane, less-terrible, squiggly I.

"Are you sure you'd like to spend your day like this? You said last night, that you just finished the heavier exams. I wouldn't want you to waste your free time-"

"How's it a waste? I planned on spending some time with my friends. I'm going to spend time with my friends."

"Your friends and an add-on-"

"My friends and a minion," Yuu corrected. "Who is also my friend."

He stopped. Yuu did too, once they saw he was lagging, but he easily caught up in two or three steps. "I'm sorry just- we're friends?"

"Aren't we?" Yuu frowned. "I thought we got past the acquaintances stage already, or do you just hug anyone?"

"I- er-"

I don't know what came over me then, honest- not that I didn't like the hug! I didn't do it just because of pity- I do like you, and I thought you'd like a hug, and I thought you did, because I did, which is odd because I barely know you, and that's the damnedest thing isn't it-

He swallowed the ramble in his throat and raised a very serious eyebrow. "Isn't it a little unprofessional, to be friends with your boss?"

Yuu chuckled. "Ramshackle organizational roles and relations are very lax. The Great Amazing Grim here is both my boss and my fuzzy hot-water bottle-"

"Hey! "

"-as you can see. I think we can follow his example and take on a secondary role of friends!" Their smile shrunk a bit. "Unless you'd rather not be friends, of course, which is also okay just let me know, no pressure o-"

"I'd be honored to be your friend, Yuu."

The words made them pause this time. The embarrassed look on their face melted away with the rest of their words, and their eyes flickered up to his with what he could only describe as soft, frail hope. He himself hoped they could tell that he meant what he said, because he really did mean it despite how recently they met. He'd like to think they did, because they gave him a look with all the joy and none of the jest he'd grown accustomed to trading with them.

"I'd be honored to be your friend too, Skully."

. . .rather than send him into a heart attack, an inexplicable sense of relief seemed to seep into his very bones. It felt a little like letting out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, only he'd been holding it in for a century, only it was less like a stale breath in his lungs and more like there'd been a hundred thousand bricks on his back that he'd never noticed until they tumbled off and left him feeling light enough to walk on air.

From their arms, Grim shot him a quaint look-

"If you hurt my henchman, even being a Grand Minion won't save ya from my super awesome fire!"

"Wouldn't dream of it!" he declared, and he meant every word. What a harsh tone Grim had. The monster must have truly cared for his henchman, abused water-bottle though he be.

Grim still eyed him like he was a suspicious ghost.

"Don't worry about him," Yuu said, smiling down at their familiar, rubbing the space between Grim's eyes with the joint of a finger as though it might smooth out the wrinkles. "Grim is a very reasonable boss."

The monster seemed to melt before batting away Yuu's hand and squirming out of their hold. Once upon his fours and the ground, he shook his head, flames flaring up.

"Dontcha underestimate me!"

"Me? Never." He would've crouched down to pay his full and completely sincere respects then, but Grim growled and ran off.

"Grim!" Yuu exclaimed. "Grim, where are you- ?!"

"Goin' ahead! You guys are slowpokes. . .! "

Grim and his voice disappeared around a bend. 

He whistled. "Quick little thing, isn't he?"

Yuu didn't even try to run, simply sighing beside him. "The only thing faster is his temper. I sure hope he's going straight to the Hall of Mirrors."

"Your friends are waiting there, yes?"

"Yep. He's probably hoping to have dibs on the snacks. They get us food from their dorms sometimes. He likes Jack's stuff best."

"Jack?"

"Big guy, white hair. A Savannaclaw from Pyroxene, do you know him?"

He hummed. "I know of a Jack. . .food, you say? I do remember something about in-dorm catering in NRC."

They rubbed the back of their neck, looking sheepish. "Yeah, that's. That's for the real dorms. Sorry to disappoint."

Oh dear, he shouldn't have said a thing- how despondent they were, when it wasn't even their fault. He set a hand on their shoulder and removed it just as quick when they looked at him. He tried to relax his posture a bit, as to share the neck strain between them.

"Hey now, I wasn't complaining! Who else can say they've had a meal cooked by their own Prefect?"

That got them to smile. They started to walk again, modestly protesting all the while, "It was just pancakes and oatmeal-"

"It was good! I liked the chocolate you used in the gruel. All the richness, none of the sweetness-"

"You don't like sweets?"

He stepped close and bumped into Yuu just enough to nudge them out of the way of a rather large stone on the path "I like them in moderation."

They really should watch where they're going. They looked up at him though, as they bumped him back. "I would have thought that, well. . ."

"Go on."

"Well, with your teeth-"

He gasped, hand over his mouth and thumb and forefinger conveniently pointing at the gaps. "How dare you! I'll have you know that sugar had nothing to do with this. I lost these two pearly whites in an tragic chess incident-"

"Chess?"

"You would not believe how angry a sore loser can be, and how hard the rooks are-"

Yuu stared at him, then wheezed. "You're fucking with me."

"You insult your minion's character! I most certainly am not-"

"Oh shit."

He turned the way they were suddenly facing, and found a horde of figures coming their way. He would have shoved them behind himself, but they ducked beneath his lanky arm and stood in front of him instead.

They waved, voice sounding just a bit panicked as they said, "Hi gu-! "

And then they were gone. Somewhere above him was a blur of azure flame, and in his shock, all he could do was stare and think that this wasn't will-o-wisp weather and that those weren't supposed to be the kidnapping kind of spirits anyhow, and oh, Yuu was afraid of heights weren't they-?

"Y O U !"

That voice-

He turned his eyes earthward and met a gaze so bright it seemed cast from pure lightning. It may have been, because he stood like a man struck by a bolt from the blue. Those brilliant eyes widened, their owner seeming as paralyzed as he was for a moment-

Then there were threads of magic buzzing and binding his arms and ankles.

The next thing he knew, he was on the ground, a green-haired student glaring as he loomed overhead, gem-tipped pen pointed at him.

.  .  .huh, this felt oddly familiar-

"SUSPICIOUS HUMAN! What are your intentions with the Ramshackle Prefect?!"

He wasn't a fan of noise or of noisy people, yet some part of him felt like laughing at this fellow and his booming voice. Something in his chest ached almost as much as his ears-

"Why are you smiling like that?!"

He blinked. "Am I?" His smile fell. So he was. Was he going mad? "Maybe I'm just impressed by the greeting. I didn't expect to be bound like this without even getting to introduce myself-"

"Oi, Sebek! Don't just go around-!"

"Jack! The suspicious human has been restrained!"

"I see that," said a silver-haired beastman, wolflike ears flattened in displeasure.

The strangest sense of disappointment filled him. "You're Jack?"

"Yeah? What about it?"

He smiled nervously. He had, perhaps, found the one person taller than him on the campus, and the fellow looked like he could snap him in half.

"Oh nothing! Yuu just spoke well of you. You must be Yuu's friends then! May I be released? I think they'd be a little upset to see me like this. Also to be flying considering they're- Grim! There you are! Mind telling your friends to let me go?"

The cat was on a blue-haired boy's shoulder, too busy feasting on some kind of pastry to be of any help. Behind him was a boy with purple hair, and another with red. Two red-gemmed pens, a purple one-  Heartslabyuls, a Pomefiore. The loud one, Sebek, had a Diasomnia-green jewel on his pencap, and Jack had one with the burnt yellow of Savannaclaw in his pocket. They were certainly a varied assortment of companions-

"Suspicious human! Explain yourself!"

He flinched. Alright, whatever charm there was to Sebek's volume was wearing off a bit. "Well, I'm not sure what you've been told to give me such a warm welcome, but I'm a transfer student and I'm staying in Ramshackle until I can be properly assigned. And my greetings to the rest of you!"

The petite Pomefiore whose resemblance he could not quite name knitted his brows at him. "You're-"

"Suspicious!"

"I was gonna say familiar-"

"Exactly! To look so much like that painting- it must be a trick to lower our guard!"

. . .that painting again. How troublesome. Would he be allowed to ask to have it back as a relative, he wondered. He might be able to burn it then-

"You're talking nonsense," Jack sighed. "What kind of trick would it be, pretending to be family of some historical figure barely anyone knows about? And why would some newbie try to trick Yuu anyway?"

"Think about it," the red Heartslabyul said. "That Halloween guy's basically a nobody-"

"He was the KING of Halloween who founded the Halloween traditions we celebrate to this day! SHOW SOME RESPECT!"

The ginger grimaced. "Sheesh, show some respect for our eardrums, why don't you? It's not even autumn anymore-"

As green and red clashed, the blue-haired Heartslabyul stepped close. "Sorry about them," he said. "Let's see if I can-"

"What do you think you're doing, Deuce?!"

"Fixing this before it becomes a problem! We're not supposed to use magic on other students like this!"

"My liege's orders come before this school's!"

It now seemed to be Deuce and Sebek's turn to quarrel. He sighed in his restraints, and felt a shadow fall over him.

Jack was standing between him and those two. The beastman glanced down at him, then looked at the Pomefiore and nodded backwards. The boy quickly dashed behind the cover and drew out his pen. The redhead spotted the ploy and joined his fellow Heartslabyul in the argument, stepping forward, another barrier between him and Sebek.

"Name's Epel," the boy whispered.

"Skully Graves. I'd shake your hand but-"

"Skully? You're named after your great grandpa?"

"He's actually more of a great great great great to the something-eth grand uncle but yes. Oh hello Grim. Mind explaining why I'm in this position?"

The monster nibbled away at a sausage roll. "Don't blame me!" he said between bites. "All I said was that someone that looked like that Halloween guy was living with me and Yuu and that you two were being pretty chummy!"

"Is that a crime now? Being friendly with my host?"

He felt the magic tighten around him, or maybe that was just Epel's fist around his collar. His other hand held its pen against his temple.

The boy smiled sweetly, blue eyes ice-cold. "Depends. Did ya do anything that should be a crime?"

He returned it with a glare. "Of course not! Yuu's been nothing but kind to me- what kind of ingrate to do take me for?"

"Hmph. You should be fine then."

At that, the threads seemed to melt away. He began seaching for his glasses when a gust of wind had him shielding his eyes. Through squinted vision, he saw something bright and blue land. He looked up from the strangely-shaped feet(?) to a head with a mask and hair that blazed blue like Grim's flame. But what really drew his attention-

"Yuu!"

The poor thing didn't seem to hear him, arms wrapped arms tight around the masked boy's neck and their eyes screwed shut. They were shaking like a leaf. The boy was alarmingly strong for his size, carrying Yuu as he did. He merely tilted his head at the body larger than his own in his arms.

"We've landed, Yuu!"

Yuu cracked an eye open and slowly pried themself off. When they spoke, it sounded faint. "O-ortho. . .I know I said you could. . . b-but a little more warning n-next-"

He scrambled up to get to Yuu as they stumbled. He looped an arm around them, beneath their own arms to keep them propped up, and their hands gripped at him with the same knuckle-white fear they must have held on to their tiny kidnapper with.

"S-Skully. . .?"

"Hello, Yuu. Easy now- can you stand? Are you feeling alright?"

"A-a little better. . ." They still sounded weak, but their grip relaxed a bit. They laughed a little breathlessly, a little hysterically, leaning into him."Can you just- stay there, for a bit? You'd make a very good tree. Nice and solid."

They stayed at his side, color returning to their face-

"Um-"

He turned to the voice, the student with an odd, robotic body. Yuu was still out of it, but he flinched in their stead and carry-lift-dragged them a step back as the boy approached. The fellow seemed sorry, flames flickering low.

"I'm sorry, Yuu! Should I change into my Precision-?

Yuu raised a hand that stopped him. "Just. Just surprised. It's fine, Ortho, I'm fine, you're fine, we're all fffff. . . "

Back on their own feet, they stared at the six and a half students staring at them. Their eyes found his glasses strewn aside on the ground, then the dust on his dark clothes. They glanced up at him. "Did something happen?"

He smiled when he should've spoke, the silence a few seconds too long- "It was nothing, I just tripped-"

"Ortho, why'd you carry me?"

"Oh! Sebek said I should take you aside while he handled the threat."

He'd said that quite chipperly. Sebek looked rather un-chipper, at the look Yuu was now giving him. Their face turned sweet for a moment, as they turned to Ortho-

"Thank you, Ortho, and for future reference aside is not up, please."

"Noted!"

They smiled then turned back to Sebek with that scolding stare. He looked away, but looked unrepentant.

"He is SUSPICIOUS !"

"He's a friend! He's a guest!" Yuu stepped away to gesture at him. "I'm supposed to show him around- I texted you guys about this!"

"I was merely doing the task assigned to me by Lord Malleus!"

They met those green eyes flatly, and marched up to the fellow.

"Sebek."

"What?"

They tapped their ear.

Sebek made a choked sound, then gritted his teeth.

"I was only doing what was asked of me," he said, voice softer than anyone would have thought possible, but that only served to make it sound like he was seething.

"Thank you," Yuu said. "But I don't need protection from him."

"He is a stranger-"

"He's my guest. And when he's not anymore, he's going to be a student in one of the other dorms. Maybe even yours. Do you want people to hear that Diasomnia's dorm head lets his retainer go around bullying-"

"I was not - "

"What would you call it if you did to me what you did to him?"

"I would not have done it to you to begin with! Lord Malleus in his boundless compassion graciously asked that you be guarded due to your helpless human frailty, and I intend to carry out that order! Even if my liege hadn't, you would not have been harmed! It was only a binding spell!"

Yuu blinked at the confession. "So you just tied him up? Okay, not too bad, I guess, compared to- oh fuck, Skully, are you alright?"

Sebek's scandalized hiss of "Language!" went unheeded.

He smiled at the worry in their eyes. "I'm fine, Yuu. I'm not the one who faced my fears today."

"Ha-ha," Yuu said, but looked genuinely relieved. They turned back to Sebek.

A tap on his shoulder(?) had him looking at Ortho, who was floating. Alright, sure. The boy was holding his glasses aloft in his hands. "Oh. Thank you- did you clean this?"

Despite the covered mouth, he could tell the boy beamed. "My big brother appreciates having screen cleaners around! It seems they work on eyewear as well as they do on tablets."

He angled the frames in the light. "Quite so! May I know where-"

Sebek's volume truly was an impressive thing, piercing tone that it was. Strange, how he couldn't bring himself to hate it.

"I refuse to apologize! My actions were founded upon solid reason!"

"What reason?"

"He is familiar! Yet I do not recognize him! He is a mere human yet he dares to use such an enchantment to worm his way into the graces to the weak human Lord Malleus has favored! It is despicable! When I look at him I too feel a sense of kinship that a mere unknown human of his level should be incapable of inducing! DOES HE NOT SEEM SUSPICIOUS TO ANY OF YOU?! "

"Sebek," Jack growled.

Sebek looked at him.

He pointed at his ears.

Sebek made that strangled sound again.

"You know," said the redhead. "If you're suspicious of someone, you probably shouldn't say that out loud?"

Deuce frowned. "Seriously. Don't you think you're getting worked up over nothing?"

"Yeah!" Epel nodded. "He just looks like his great uncle! Even I look like my grandm-"

"Even the name is too similar!" Sebek protested.

Grim huffed. "As if ya wouldn't name your kid Malleus if ya could."

"I-I wouldn't dare- not without- that's- why are you all siding with HIM?!"

They continued on, Yuu's attempts to quell the situation unheard in the redhead and Grim's riling retorts and the other two's more pacifying lines. At last they sighed, and walked back to where he stood. Where Jack stood too, apparently, the both of them standing like pillars with Yuu in between.

"Jack," Yuu said softly.

Jack's ears pricked up. Yuu pinched their pointer and thumb in a circle over their mouth and held it there. The beastman promptly pressed his flattened ears closer to his head. Yuu glanced at him, and he followed suit-

Yuu blew a note so high and sharp that covering his ears did little to muffle it.

The rest of the group, save for Ortho, flinched at the sound.

The Heartslabyul shot them a look."Yuu."

"Ace," Yuu replied, with the same expression and tone, then smiled back at him and Jack and Ortho.

Yuu began to walk down the path, and the redhead rolled his eyes. Ace scooped Grim up and joined their moving half of the group.

"Here's your Grim," he said, handing over the monster, who gave an offended "Hey!"

"Thank you," Yuu said, accepting the offered beast. They proceeded to drop him about a foot from the ground.

Grim blinked, and only then processing the loss of his ride, exclaimed a louder, even more offended, "Hey! "

"Someone seems heavy from breakfast," Yuu said to no one in particular, and Grim grumbled and ran along beside them

Ace slung an arm around Yuu's shoulders and lifted a paper bag to them. "And here're your strawberry cream puffs."

Yuu beamed. "Have I ever told you that I love you?"

"Stop being a sap and eat it before Grim does-"

"I got 'im," Jack said, Grim imprisoned in his arms. "Stop flailing, you had yours."

"H-hold on!"

"Wait up!"

Deuce and Epel ran up behind them. In the distance, Sebek stared, then dashed forward, scowling.

At Yuu's side, Deuce pointed at the bag. "Got some omurice in the box below the puffs! Might be kinda cold now though."

"I can heat it!" Ortho offered cheerfully.

And now Epel was beside him. "Want an apple?" he asked, producing one with a twirl of his pen.

He smiled. "Thank you, but I'd rather Yuu have it."

The boy smiled. "Don't be shy! I have boxes of em- can't eat them fast enough, if I'm being honest."

"Well, then-"

He caught the apple as Epel tossed it. It was red as rubies and smelled delightful.

"Hey, what year are you by the way?"

"Hmm? Ah, I'm a first-year-"

"Ehh? You're-? Really? How old are ya?"

"Sixteen."

Epel gaped. "That's. . .!" His shoulders drooped. "Man, the world really is unfair-"

"Indeed it is! This miscreant has invaded our-"

"Don't mind him," Epel said. "Hey, is everyone in your town that tall or didya eat something or-?"

Jack snorted.

Epel gave him a look. "Hey! I gotta try everything I can, y'know?"

"Skully!" Yuu called. "Would you like anything? I've got-"

"Breakfast was plenty!" He lifted the fragrant fruit in his hand. "And Epel was kind enough to share this with me."

Yuu laughed. "You're gonna be seeing a lot of those-"

"Please," Epel said desperately, glancing away from Jack. "Please, please tell me if you'd like another. Or two. Or ten. "

He could only imagine the abundance of apples making the boy look so haunted. "Will do!"

Epel smiled.

There was a growl beside him. "You may have tricked these simpleminded humans, but I will not be so easily swayed!"

He didn't look up. Something told him it was funnier that way. Instead, he turned the apple about and tried to see Sebek through the reflection upon its glossy surface. "I assure you, I am not trying to trick anyone."

"That is exactly what such a scheming miscreant would say!"

He hummed, smile creeping through his lips . "Alright then. Say I am a horrible, scheming villain. What do you plan to do with me?"

"I will uncover your plot! I will not allow you to interfere with the assignment that Lord Malleus has bestowed upon me!"

"You seem to admire this Malleus fellow a lot."

"Of course I do! And don't you dare say his name so casually! Do you not know of my Lord Malleus Draconia?"

"I have an inkling of it, but do enlighten me."

"Ha! It seems even a underhanded human such as yourself recognzies the greatness of my master! It is only natural, my Lord Malleus Draconia greatness deserves every admiration! Very well, I shall educate you, though you are but an undeserving human! Lord Malleus is an extraordinary presence that comes once in a century- no, a millenuim! You should be grateful to even be stepping foot on the same grounds that my lord has walked, to have the favor of one he's favored! I'll have you know he is ranked as one of the top mages in the world! His magical knowledge and prowess is unparalleled! Why, in the last Spelldrive tournament-"

A coughing noise had him looking up. Deuce hovered a hand over Yuu's back, looking unsure of whether or not to strike as Yuu waved their own hand dismissively. Meanwhile, Ortho was stating health metrics in concern. Ace just snickered. "I told you to slow down-"

"You!" Sebek cried. "Using my loyalty and devotion to Lord Malleus to distract me from my duties! You shall pay for your underhanded tricks! "

He braced himself, but Sebek simply ran ahead, a bottle raised.

"Cease your pathetic choking, frail human! I have water! "

"Sebek, I'm fine I'm- khk-"

For someone who thought so little of humans, Sebek was surprisingly concerned for Yuu's health. Jack and Epel too glanced over, or walked close, their conversation paused. As he watched them all fret over Yuu in their own way, with words or actions or silent concern, he supposed it was a good thing that they had so many people looking out for them. Someone had to, if the headmaster wasn't, and both Yuu and their friends seemed used to it. It would only stifle Yuu to crowd near them now, so he bit into the apple and stayed at the back of this little group, letting them do as they were accustomed.

The Hall of Mirrors soon rose before them.

"Here we are!" Yuu declared at last. They tossed their trash towards a bin and would've missed if Deuce didn't manage to bounce it in with a well-timed kick.

"Nice shot," he said, and tossed his core.

Deuce glanced at him. "Ah- thanks?"

"Deuce, isn't it? I apologize, I'm not sure if I got all your names quite right-"

Yuu looked at them. "You guys didn't introduce yourselves?"

"I did!" Epel said. "I got him outta Sebek's spell too!" (In the corner of his eye, Sebek looked betrayed.)

"I tried to help," Deuce mumbled.

"He did," he confirmed. "Try to help, I mean. And Epel's the only one to introduce himself. As for the others. . .if I heard correctly. . .the Savannaclaw's Jack, the Ignihyde is Ortho, the other Heartslabyul is Ace, and the Diasomnian is Sebek. Wonderful names, all of them! Ah, but do correct me if I'm wrong, or if you'd rather I call you something else."

Epel looked at him with awe. "You got that just by listening? That's impressive."

"It is suspicious," Sebek grumbled.

"He could just be observant, unlike you."

"Ace! Don't you dare compare me to him!"

"You're right. Skully isn't yelling my ear off."

"Guys," Yuu said, and he had to admire how they could stand all the bickering. "Tour now, argue later. Okay? Okay. So Skully, any dorm in particular you'd like to head to first?"

And they were all looking at him now. Okay. None of them were jumping at the bit to sway him, but nobody was giving him an evil eye to stay away either. Except Sebek, maybe, but he seemed the very serious, ever-glaring sort.

"Don't really have a preference," he admitted. "Not for lack of splendor! All the dormitories look charming and have incredible histories! I just- I did opt to be screened by the Dark Mirror because I had a touch of decision paralysis-"

Sebek scoffed at that. Of course you'd be indecisive, he could almost hear, unlike I, Sebek, who knew at once that I wished to share a dormitory with my esteemed master, Malleus Draconia, you are but a lowly, purposeless human-

"-but if I had to pick a place to start," he continued, smiling right at Sebek." I think I'd like to see Diasomnia."

The way Sebek's eyes immediately seemed to bulge from their sockets as he glared told him he made the right choice. How funny, the way nerves seemed to pop by his brow-

Deuce blinked. "Really? Diasomnia? Most students are pretty intimidated by it-"

"It's founded on the Elegance of the Witch of Thorns, yes? It seems like an interesting place to be. A frightful yet noble atmosphere."

"Sebek," Yuu said. "Are you alright with guiding us through your dorm?"

"Diasomnia is not a dormitory for those who merely seek an atmosphere-"

"Well, I'm also curious to see the dormitory that your lord comes from. If someone as great as the Malleus Draconia leads it, it must surely be a magnificent place!"

Sebek's eye twitched. He seemed torn between the opportunity to expound upon the greatness of the great Malleus Draconia and his suspicions.

"It's okay if you don't," Yuu said gently. "Hornt- I mean, your Dorm Head did say that he'd like to show me around some-"

"NO! I will not let you waste Lord Malleus's precious time! I can conduct the tour, and I will show you the elegance and nobility my liege's dormitory embodies!"

"What passion!" he exclaimed. "I'll be in your care, Sebek."

"Thank you for your time," Yuu said earnestly, and that seemed to stop the peculiar process by which a Sebek turns purple from rage. "Please lead the way then."

The boy breathed in, then out. He then composed himself, his back ramrod straight and his disdain mostly out of his face. In a flash of light, he was in his dormitory's uniform of brilliant greens and dark leather. He looked rather put together then, stern and noble.

"Very- urk, very well! Follow me, and do not stray! I will not be responsible should any of you become lost in Diasmonia's halls!"

Sebek marched to a mirror and stepped through.

Deuce sighed. "He didn't even wait for us."

"Should we leave him?" Ace grinned. "Bet he won't even notice for a wh- oww!"

Deuce shook his fist. "Yuu's happy to be a host! Don't screw this up!"

"Fine, fine-"

"Hurry up," Jack grumbled, and when the two stalled on the steps for another bout, he pushed them through before entering it himself, Grim still tucked under his arm and licking the last of a shared cream puff from his paws.

Ortho giggled. "They're good friends aren't they?"

"That's. . .one way to put it," Epel said, following.

The glass shone as it swallowed them up.

Just the two of them in the Hall now, Yuu offered their hand.

"Shall we, Skully?"

He looked at the Diasomnia mirror, one of the seven in the Hall, one of many to go through today. Soon, he'd be using one of them regularly, and Yuu'd be left to walk at least half that long, dreary path with Grim alone.

Yuu smiled at him though, so he took their hand and strode ahead with a face and manner that beheld all the excitement he wasn't feeling quite yet, and he gripped their hand tight as they fell through the mirror.

Chapter Text

Diasomnia was indeed a frightful yet noble place to be. It was lovely in a lonesome, fearsome way with its polished stone and high ceilings, and cold and vast and charmingly intimidating in a manner he didn't know was possible of a building until then.

Lilia Vanrouge was. . .not quite that. The third-year fluttered by once they stepped through its gate, and he made for a whimsical counter to Sebek's dry descriptions to all thing non-Malleus-related as the floating fae told of amusing incidents in its halls. 

"This is the library!" Sebek declared. "Diasomnia's students excel in a variety of magic, and our knowledge is second to none! Refrain from sitting in that seat, for it is Lord Malleus's favored spot when he graces this place with his presence!"

"Oh!" Lilia beamed. "And that's the post Sebek walked into the other week when Malleus commended him for his diligent studying and he moved too quick."

"M-master Lilia-!"

Ace grinned. "Ha! Told you he walked into something."

Deuce and Epel grumbled as they each fished out a bill to press into Ace's hand.

"That's where the bruise came from?" Yuu asked.

Sebek stopped glaring at the gamblers to face them."I-it was a small sacrifice in ensuring I was giving my liege my full attention!"

They frowned. "I hope you're alright now-"

"Worry for yourself! I have trained to be a retainer, but you! Your frailty is so bothersome even Lord Malleus had to intervene! Were it not for his kindness you'd be writhing about like a hapless worm!"

. . .the harsh words had him glaring and even some of the others giving Sebek a look, but Yuu just chuckled. "Well, thank you for looking after this worm, Sebek."

"Hmph!"

Sebek strode away from them, tragically not into the post again, and ahead to the next location. The others followed, but Lilia lingered, dipping by Yuu-

"Thank you for being so patient with him."

Yuu smiled. "He really isn't that bad."

"If only others could be so understanding."

"It would help if he could be more understanding too. And maybe him being less uh, just less would be better?" Yuu crossed their arms. "He basically knocked Skully down earlier just because he had a hunch. "

Lilia seemed rather unsurprised as Yuu recounted the less-than-polite acquaintanceship. Then, the fae turned to him. "I don't suppose he apologized?"

"Afraid not," he shook his head. "Says I'm suspicious."

Lilia floated over with an appraising look, and as those red eyes bored into him, he suddenly found that Diasomnia did suit the boy quite a bit. He stared at narrow pupils making him think of blood and beasts as the hairs at the back of his neck stood on end-

"Skully really didn't deserve that- he's been a perfect gentleman!"

He blinked at Yuu. Was he now? Really? After letting them carry his things and grabbing them and-and-

"Is that so?" Lilia smiled, nothing but a cute third-year. Well I hope you can be a good influence for Sebek too, then. I'll talk to him later- oh! And may I know if he-?"

"Just restraints, this time." Yuu said.

Lilia clapped his hands together. "Small mercies-"

"Hey, Henchman! Are ya comin' or not?"

"Oh my!" Lilia laughed. "Seems we're running a bit behind-"

Lilia waved his hand, then they were right behind Sebek as traces of magic wisped away. Green eyes narrowed.

"You! Avoid wasting Master Lilia's time and energy! If you are so weak as to be winded by a brisk walk-!"

"I can carry them."

Sebek stared at him. Then, he opened his mouth for a snarling retort, were those fangs-?

"Can you?" Yuu asked, seeming to examine him with only a touch of exaggerated skepticism.

He straightened up. "Hey, you may think me a tree, but I'm not all sticks-"

"I can do it if you pass out," Jack said, though his eyes seemed focused more on the students in the shadows eyeing them back than Yuu. "It's not like you weigh much anyway."

"I don't either!" Grim said accusingly, glaring at Yuu.

They sighed, smiling, stooping to pick him up-

He got to the monster first though, and immediately hefted Grim.

"Oh you are warm!" It was a rather nice thing that he was, with Diasomnia's halls so cold.

Grim protested and squirmed until the forked tail was wrapped around his arm like an anchor. He looked around then, eyes wide. "Whoa! This is like Jack without the dust!"

Yuu gasped.

"My hot-water bottle!" they mourned, as Jack glanced down at himself, perhaps looking for dust.

He grinned down at Yuu. "I am claiming my Grand Minion benefits."

Ace looked at him and Grim both. "The heck's a Grand Minion?"

As he explained the intricacies of the recent update to Ramshackle's organizational structure, Ortho floated past. "Would you like to hold my hand, Yuu? I can regulate my heat output-"

Somewhere behind him, Deuce and Epel were discussing whether anyone could carry Jack if he were to faint. Ahead of him, Sebek glared with crossed arms as Lilia patted his shoulder. Sebek groaned.

"Did you wish to see Diasomnia or simply prattle?!"

~ ~ ~

There was a difference between a castle and a palace, and Pomefiore was that difference. Diasomnia was draped in the dark and dramatic, a formidable fortress on a mount. Pomefiore was no less ostentatious, but its very walls seemed to shine with a certain brilliance, a polished jewelry box where Diasomnia was a wrought-iron crown. It was all grand and gilded, and as formally as he tried to dress for the day, he still felt lacking.

When he said so, Epel sighed.

"That's perfectly normal," said the Pomefiore, and when he stared at the shift in tone and language, the petite boy could only look at him with a great pain in his eyes. "Please let me show you around our dormitory."

Epel walked ahead to lead the group, and there was a certain stiff grace to his movements now.

"Is Epel alright? " he whispered to Jack, since Jack he was the only person he could really whisper to inconspicuously, what with their heights.

Jack muttered under breath, "Being watched."

Watched? By who?

By the blond man that came out of nowhere perhaps, arms wide as he ran into Yuu. He lifted them and Grim in one go and spun them in a circle before setting them back on their feet. He kissed Yuu on each cheek and gave Grim the same greeting. Grim looked less than pleased at the affection, spitting and rubbing at his face.

The man laughed. "Bonjour, Trickster, Monsieur Peluche! And good day to all you Monsieurs as well! What brings you to Pomefiore this lovely day?"

"Just wanted to take a look around," Yuu smiled. "Skully here just transferred to Night Raven."

"I see! You must be Skully. I am Rook Hunt, but you may call me le Chasseur d' Amour! My greetings, Monsieur Ombre!"

"Ombre?" he repeated, a puzzled smile on his face. "Is it the eyebags? It's the eyebags, isn't it-"

"Non non, mon ami! You simply seem to be sticking close to Trickster, is all. A second shadow, shall we say?"

Was he? Yuu seemed like they had six to seven shadows right now, depending on how much Grim counted.

He smiled politely, and hoped he didn't seem like a creep to be so obviously sticking so close to someone he had known for less than a day. "Yuu is my host-"

Yuu grinned. "And your boss-"

"Sub-Boss-"

"Hush, Minion ! "

Another laugh. "What a delightful camraderie you've formed already! May I have the honor of escorting you?"

"Rook probably would do a better job," Epel said. "He's the Vice Housewarden. We're just- ahem, we're only having a look around the um, common areas and some information about Pomefiore before moving on."

"I'd be glad to do it!" Rook said cheerily. "Ah, and Trickster! Vil would like a word with you."

Epel hummed. "Is he in his room right now?"

"Indeed! Excellent, I leave Yuu to you, then. Come along, Monsieur Ombre! There is much to see-"

He blinked. He was being walked by Rook alone. He twisted out of the herding arm the man had along his shoulders.-

"Yuu!" he called, looking back-

Yuu was looking between him and their friends as they were herded the other way down the hall. They looked rather confused, saying things and trying to turn back. He stepped forward-

A firm hand was on his shoulder. "I know you must be anxious to part from your friend, but it is very important that Yuu meet with Vil. Please do let me escort you, Monsieur Ombre! I swear I shall return you to their company after."

Yuu glanced back at him again, further now, eyes still full of worry as they were swept away.

He smiled and shot a thumbs up. Yuu seemed to sink a little at the sight, settling into their friends, so they must have seen it.

Rook smiled as he was turned back the other way. "Now Monsieur, what sort of things interest you about Pomefiore?"

He tried to focus on Rook's words, on the tour, which was what he was supposed to be doing anyway, though he was supposed to be doing it with Yuu.

"I apologize," he sighed. "I'm not really sure what I'm interested in at the moment. I was hoping something might call to me while I was visiting the dormitories. . .?"

Rook didn't take offense. "Fret not, Monsieur! You must be at crossroads in your life, to come to our college like this. Uncertainty is understandable in the face of the unknown. But let us seek a way through this fog, and reach for your future with the tenacity of Fairest Queen! Tell me, Monsieur Ombre, do you prefer potions or pageantry? Or are curses of more import?"

"Is pageantry one of Pomefiore's fields? I heard this place was about curses and potions-"

"We are indeed renowned for our potionsmiths, but beauty is also a beloved pursuit of many of us here! After all, to make use of such concoctions, there ought to be an appeal to it, no? None would dare to eat a nutritious apple if it looks like it's rotting, but if it gleamed like jewel, who wouldn't joyfully bite into even a poisoned fruit?""

". . .when you put it like that-"

"I see you're getting it! If I may stray- where do you hail from, Monsieur? I must confess, I'm curious about what other schools may think of such matters."

Rook was a rather engaging guide, equal parts interesting in what Pomefiore had to offer and interested in what he had to say, or looking like he did, at least. They'd passed a garden full of potion ingredients and one of several art studios and labs and was rather deep into a discussion about at what point a potion becomes a poison when they came upon the wing with the actual dormitory part of the dorm.

All the students in the luxurious lounge stared at him, but he thankfully didn't have to stay there long.

"Skully!"

That voice came from the stairs. The Pomefiores scattered about turned their attention back to whatever busied them before his arrival. Yuu ran down the steps, looking quite relieved, then their eyes went wide as they slipped a step-

Jack quickly reached out to pull them by the back of their shirt. Their friends steadied them, tones scolding and teasing-

"It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Monsieur Ombre!"

He blinked and took the hand that Rook offered-

It immediately clamped down like a beartrap.

The vice housewarden smiled at him all the same, green eyes bright beneath his feathered hat.

He met the hunter's gaze and squeezed back, smiling as he shook.

"A pleasure to meet you too."

Hunt chuckled.

"I'll take my leave now, Monsieur Skully. Do take care, so you won't have to. Au revoir!"

And with that he traipsed away.

"Skully!" Yuu was in front of him now, panting. Luxury meant it was a long lounge. "Sorry. . .that I left. . .Vil had to- I. . .I uh-"

He smiled. "I'm sure whatever it was, it was very important."

Their own smile seemed to be nervous, or perhaps that was the fatigue.

"You-! "

"Thank you, Sebek," they said, taking the bottle from the fellow's hand and chugging it.

"You know, I would have thought your daily war with the great, terrible U would have trained up your stamina."

"Inclines are the devil," they replied, wiping their mouth.

"You hear that, Grim? You're an incline."

Grim huffed. "You're an incline!"

Ace snorted. "That doesn't even make sense-"

"You had your fill of Pomefiore yet?"

He turned to Jack. "I suppose. It was quite enlightening."

"Better head to Savannaclaw then. The rest of the guys should be stampedin' to the cafeteria or mess hall about now, so the dorm should be pretty deserted."

". . .they won't take kindly to non-Savannaclaws entering, I assume?"

"Gotta p- ugh, " Epel made a face, "You have to prove yourself first. They became more. . . agreeable towards me, after some rounds of Spelldrive."

Deuce looked at him. "Do you even want to get into Savannaclaw? No offense, but you don't really uh-"

"Look like an athlete?" he chuckled. "I'm not. But the King of Beasts was known for his tactics as much as his physical prowess, yes? I believe that dorm's about persistence and not simply strength?"

"Not a fan of mind games and scheming to get on top. . .but that's a way to survive too," Jack relented. "The determination to stick around's a strength of it's own."

"Speaking of which," Epel said. "Can we please stop sticking around here?"

"Indeed! We are wasting time!"

Ace raised an eyebrow at Sebek. "You know you can go, right? We already did your dorm-"

"Nonsense! Lord Malleus-"

"It's okay, Sebek." Yuu smiled. "If you have other stuff you wanna do-"

"Do not presume I cannot manage my time! My assignments were completed prior to my morning training! Jack, let us proceed!"

"Don't scream at me to do stuff," Jack grumbled, but led the way.

Once again, he found himself at the back of the group. Ortho was lagging too, though, gaze distant as he floated beside him.

"Excuse me, are you alright?"

The fiery boy blinked and floated higher. "Yes! My systems are all functioning! Do you need assistance?"

"Oh no, you. . . just seemed a little out of it?"

"Apologies, I was deleting the recordings the Pomefiore students were making."

"You. . . you deleted them? Like from their phones? You just- you went in and-"

He mimed yanking something and tossing it away.

The boy nodded cheerfully. "It seemed rude to have such videos circulating. Even Big Brother's older scripts could handle hacking them though!"

". . .that's impressive. Also a little terrifying."

Ortho giggled.

~ ~ ~

"I think," he said slowly. "That I will die here."

Yuu laughed. "What happened to persistence and tactics?"

"Gone. Melted in the Savannaclaw sun."

Jack's dormitory was all sand and stone and woodwork pulled together into a harsh yet admirable scene. Some hardier plants and trees sprung from the dusty earth and the spray of the lounge's waterfall was a welcome reprieve when they passed it; but the space seemed, for the most part, to be an arid wasteland. This was especially the case in the outdoor zones, where most places of interest seemed to be. With the despicable heat and dryness, and it truly was a dorm where only the strong could survive. They were barely there for fifteen minutes when they had to take a break in the shade, but the sun conspired against them even then to creep as far as it could into all the shadows.

Yuu chuckled beside him, their collapsible umbrella barely covering them both. "Better skip Scarabia for much later, then."

"Has anyone here ever gotten heatstroke?" he wondered aloud.

"Several." The Ignihyde said it with a certainty that could have only come from hacking into the school clinic's medical reports.

Epel snickered. "Your fault for dressin' up all fancy."

"I thought I was dressed rather plainly." He was even more plain now, having shed his jacket and vest and turned his ascot into a towel.

"Have you ever even been in the sun?" Ace asked. "You look like a vampire-"

"Ghost," Grim said-

"Grand Boss Grim, I am very human. My village was simply a foggy one. A mild, cool climate for most of the year."

"I get it," Jack said, "I came from Pyroxene. Home was pretty chilly. Takes a while but. . . you'll adjust."

Oh how he envied the wolf's breezy uniform. Even with the umbrella and a mist spell he had spiralling around, he was tempted to tear his sleeves off. Maybe also his skin. He glanced to the side and Sebek, of course, despite his comparable paleness and coverage, stood completely unaffected in the sun. Ortho also seemed unaffected, despite being on fire, or maybe it was because he was regularly burning that overheating wasn't a concern-

"Maybe we should just go?" Deuce suggested, and may the heavens bless the boy for it.

He sighed. "I do apologize, Jack, for having you take us all the way out here-"

"Forget it. Was kinda gutsy of you to wanna try coming to Savannaclaw anyway."

"Who knows? The mirror might have a sense of humor. . ."

"You're gonna have to get at least a little stronger if you're gonna be here. I'll help ya train if you do - so you don't drag the dorm down-"

"If we are done," Sebek said, "Let us continue!"

Grim poked out of the shadow between their legs and looked up with big, blue eyes. "Let's get lunch! I'm starving!"

Epel perked up. "Do ya-"

"I'm sick of apples! I munched a ton in your room already!"

"Rude," Epel said.

"I wouldn't mind another."

Epel beamed and summoned one for him.

"Thank you!" He promptly pressed it to his cheek and sighed at its coolness. "Whatever you're doing to store it, keep doing that."

"Hey, I didn't give it to ya to be an ice pack-!"

Fine. He bit into it, and found it blissfully chilled to its core. "Ah, refreshing."

"Gimme that-" Yuu said, pulling down his non-umbrella hand and biting into the fruit-

"Give me that," Ace said, taking a bite next.

"I could just get ano-"

"No." Ace and Yuu replied, and Epel huffed.

Deuce raised a hand. "I could go for-"

Yuu smiled apologetically. "Thanks Epel, but I think a whole apple might spoil lunch-"

The Pomefiore pouted. "We're just going to the cafeteria, right?"

Yuu's smile widened. "Actually. . ."

~ ~ ~

Octavinelle was truly breathtaking. He'd seen the pictures, but it was really another thing to be there, marine life swimming or swaying in the currents all around. It was peaceful, soothing, and most importantly, it was delightfully cool and dim after Savannaclaw. He immediately cast a spell that did away with the sweat before it could smell or sicken in the chill of the underwater entryway, then did the same for Yuu.

"Well that's certainly handy," Yuu beamed. It really was, especially since he had a penchant for dark clothes and an air that apparently invited being pushed to the dirt courtesy of a certain Disomnian.

He bowed. "Why thank you, Sub-Boss Yuu, I'm glad to serve!"

"That stuff's easy-peasy!" Grim boasted, and when the magic sparks faded, he stood proudly. . .and puffily.

Only at the snickering and choked-down laughter did Grim look down upon his fluffy, fur-raised self. "Gah!"

"Sure you didn't turn into a dust bunny?" Ace grinned.

Epel laughed behind a hand. "You look like a pom-pom!"

"S-says you!" Grim patted himself down most frantically.

"Hey," Epel glared. "What does that-?"

"You did that without a gem?" Jack cut in.

He frowned. "I don't recall magic being forbidden without one?"

"It's not exactly banned," Deuce confirmed. "But-"

"It is dangerous for a human to so recklessly cast magic!" Sebek cried. "Do you know nothing of blot, you-?!"

"Oh I know plenty! In fact-"

A snap of his fingers had magic of the same spell rushing around of all of them, tidying them up and flattening down Grim's fur.

"ARE YOU DEAF?!" Sebek glared. "Did you hear NOTHING of what I-?!"

"Are you alright Skully?" Yuu's eyes were wide, alarmed, "That was-"

"It's a light spell," he reassured, smiling, and that didn't quite soothe the panic in their eyes. He quickly lifted the glasses off his face and held it towards them-

"Look at my glasses, won't you?"

Yuu tore their eyes away from his slowly, but they did drift down at last, studying the lenses a shade darker. Their eyes widened, and he smiled.

"I don't have a magestone," he said, "but I do have a magic counterweight. In hindsight, maybe I should have spun some more spells in Savannaclaw, so the sun wouldn't have glared so terribly."

Yuu's looked at the glasses cautiously, then up at him.

Ace leaned over their shoulder. "So your glasses absorb blot?"

"Indeed!" He slipped them back upon his nose. "I'll go blind before anything gets too bad, so trust in your Minion a little, won't you, Yuu?"

Yuu sighed at that, but smiled back. "Well aren't you full of surprises?"

"Are you sure you're a first-year?" Epel asked. "To use that much magic-"

"My last school wasn't a magical institution. Well, it didn't focus on magic much, so I think enrolling as a freshman here would be best."

Jack hummed. "If you can handle that much without a gem. . .you might be able to skip a grade."

"Or two!" Ortho said. "Even third-years could struggle with casting spell like that in succession without a tool to focus it with."

Deuce was looking at him like some specimen now too. "If your last school wasn't big on magic, then were you like, homeschooled?"

"More self-taught," he said, and the sour look Sebek was shooting his way wasn't quite worth the eyes and attention the others were sending. He smiled politely though. "A-and I'm afraid my self-taught skills are rather limited to simple, vain things, such as that spell."

"Could you teach it to me later?" Epel asked. "Vanity's pretty huge in Pomefiore. If it ain't as hard as clothes-changing, maybe I could manage it. Might help Vil get off my back for sweating like a pig when I'm running late to his lessons."

"If you don't mind," Deuce said, looking a little sheepish. "I'd like to know it too. Could be useful for Housewarden Rosehearts' inspections."

"I'd ask you to teach Grim, so I don't have to wrestle him in the shower-"

"That is torture, and you know it!'

"-but you don't have to," Yuu finished, and glanced at Deuce and Epel with a look as they walked in front of him, making space. They glanced up at him, smiling. "You must still be a bit tired from the trip here, after all."

He was, just a little. He smiled at them, then at their friends. "I'd be glad to help when we have the time."

Ace grinned at his fellow Heartslabyul. "Teach me that thing when you've got it down."

"Hey, figure it out on your own, or ask-"

Ace pouted. "C'mon Deuce! Don't want to overburden Yuu's guest right?"

Deuce glared. "You-!"

Yuu straightened up, but looked down the hall rather than the Heartslabyuls, a familiar deer-in-the-headlights look in their eyes. . .there was a noise like the pounding of footsteps, and it was getting louder-

"Shrimpy! "

Before he could process that, Yuu dashed in front of him again.

"Floyd, wait-!"

Floyd did not wait.

Yuu panickedly tossed their umbrella aside just in time for a figure in a rumpled suit to ram into them. The newcomer hoisted them up with none of Rook's finesse but all of the enthusiasm and more as the boy cackled. Third time today, they're getting embraced like that. First Ortho, then Rook, and now this grinning Octavinelle. Perhaps his greeting wasn't as strange as he thought. Or maybe they'd all just found Yuu to give enjoyable hugs, as he had-

"Hi Floyd," they wheezed, or sighed, possibly. They couldn't really hug back, with their arms pinned to their sides like that.

He picked up their poor umbrella and turned to poor Yuu. "Excuse me, I think-"

"Hm?" Mismatched eyes narrowed at him with a raised brow. "Who're you?"

He blinked. There was something off about him. The liveliness, the way he spoke-

"Hey Shrimpy, when'd ya get a spadefishy?"

Yuu tapped the fellow with a trapped hand, and only then did he set them down. "Hi Floyd," they said again, maybe dizzy, "This is Skully! He's staying with me at Ramshackle for now. Transfer student."

"Welcome to Octavinelle."

Another student stepped into view. He looked quite like Floyd, only more put together, only more poised, and something in him said that's what he was expecting, with such an appearance. Compared to his twin, he smiled calmly. The rest of the students around seemed to tense though.

The doppleganger dipped his head to Yuu. "Hello, Yuu and company. Please allow me to escort you to your seats."

Yuu smiled. "Sure! Thanks, Jade."

Floyd flopped over to draped himself over Yuu. "Ehh, you just came here for lunch? Let's go do something fun, Shrimpy!"

"Sorry Floyd, kinda busy-"

"Floyd, do behave yourself around our guests."

The fellow practically seemed to deflate as he bent the other way. "Fiiiine, I'll take 'em to their table, or whatever. . .welcome to Octavinelle."

"How do we split up?" Ace asked. "Gonna take forever if we wait for a big table -"

"Oh, you don't have to fret about that," Jade smiled, and this time, Yuu shooting a look did nothing to stop him from speaking on with a smile. "Yuu here made a reservation some weeks ago-""

"You what?"

Yuu turned to Deuce, then the rest of heir friends who were staring at them in various levels of bafflement. They smiled. "Surprise?"

Ace stepped forward, slung an arm around Yuu's shoulders, and turned them around to walk them to the center of the group. "Yuu. When did you-"

"Weeks ago," they said, with a quick glancing glared at Jade. "Month or two maybe? Our profs gave us the project and exam schedules so I thought it would be nice to celebrate after! My treat, by the way."

Deuce whisper was not that, though he likely meant for it to be. "Where'd you get the money?"

"Here and there. Helped with test reviewers, helped with recipes and serving sometimes-"

Jack frowned. "That's what you meant when you said you were busy cooking?"

"I was cooking. They let me use the kitchen here to make a week's work of stuff and bring it to Ramshackle. Tossed in preservation charms for free."

"You said you were at the library!" Epel accused.

"Octavinelle library's a library."

"So that is why I could not find you!" Sebek exclaimed. "I went to the main library several times!"

". . .you did ?"

"I knew," Ortho said. "You were not discreet."

All turned to the Ignihyde.

Ace glared. "I call bull- you used the security feed!"

"Hehe."

"Guys, come on, it's not a big deal, let's just have lunch."

"I'll leave you to it then" he smiled. "I'll wait for you at the Hall-"

"What? No, you're joining us."

"Yuu reserved a table for nine," Jade said with a tad more volume, showing how useless this almost-huddle seemed to be in terms of privacy.

"Oh. That's- " Yuu, Grim, Ace, Deuce, Jack, Epel, Sebek, Ortho (does Ortho eat?)- that's eight. "Was someone else going to-"

"I asked for another seat yesterday."

"You asked-? Yesterday? While you were out? On the U?"

"Yeah!" they said, then at his silence, looked away. "Sorry, I should have asked first? You said you didn't have any restrictions so I thought it would be- er, If you don't want to, you can-"

"I'd be glad to join you all." he said quickly. He didn't care much for that look on their face, one so uncertain and nervous. "Thank you for inviting me, truly. I saw rumours about a restaurant in Octavinelle, but I didn't expect to actually see it! Let's get to our table. Wouldn't want to waste your efforts or our hosts's time, would we?"

"There was no set reservation period," Jade said. "But lunch hours do end at three."

"Come on already," Floyd whined, then his eyes lit up. "Can I drag Shrimpy in if they don't move?"

"Floyd," Jade said, but the scolding tone seemed only half-serious, and a grin spread on his twin's face.

"So Yuu's got us lunch right? Let's go!" Grim grinned. "I'm starving !"

Floyd immediately snatched the monster up. "Sealie's hungry, huh?" Sharp teeth glinted in the watery light. "I'm kinda hungry too-"

"H-hey I'm not your snack!"

"Floyd-!"

"Want 'im, Shrimpy? Better start running!"

That would have been more threatening and more impressive if Jade hadn't immediately yanked on Floyd's scarf, scruffing and choking him a little as he turned. Those few seconds until he let go was all Grim needed to get free. The monster ran into Yuu's arms and glared at the twins.

Floyd groaned at his brother. "You're no fun."

"A bit of exercise can build up an appetite, but I'm sure our guests will enjoy an easy-going meal today. Are you ready to dine, now?"

Yuu stepped forward. "Ah yes, sorry for the hold up!"

Jade chuckled. "Follow me, then."

Floyd sulked as he stalked behind his twin. An eye flickered to him, and the Octavinelle let out a chuckle. "Shrimpy's collecting barnacles. . .kinda wanna scrape em off. . ."

Jack strode forward between them, meeting Floyd's golden eye with his own. He hadn't noticed Jack's growl until Floyd returned it with a low drone of his own. Floyd's sights drifted to Jade.

"Would be a pain though. . .and Azul'll nag again. . ."

Floyd moved further back, circling the group, leaning too close here or leaving a comment there to make Epel glare or Sebek snap as he laughed. He poked Yuu as they talked to Jade, then said something to Ace and Deuce that ended with the Heartslabyuls giving him dirty looks. Floyd passed by him and Jack with nothing but a grumble. He finally settled by Ortho, and they then seemed to have a rather normal conversation about shoes.

Mostro Lounge was classy for a student-run establishment. He wasn't sure what the room could have been before, didn't seem quite like a normal student lounge, but it had been converted into a fine restaurant with dim lighting, faint music, and uniformed waitstaff. They were seated at a large booth with a large table, the tall couch enclosing them in a cozy bubble. The menus were printed with cardstock and the place smelled neither pungent from all the meals nor so perfumed that it could spoil one's appetite

"Order what you want!" Yuu declared. "Appetizers, drinks, dessert, whatever- don't worry about leftovers, I'll pack that up."

He was fortunately seated beside Yuu, which meant he could lean over. "Remind me to treat you after this."

"You don't have to-"

"I'd like to," he replied. "It's only fair."

"I'd also like you to! " Grim grinned from Yuu's other side.

"Of course! How could I not feed my Grand Boss-"

"May I have Grand Boss Grim?" Ortho asked. "I think Big Brother would like footage of him eating."

Grim was passed to Ortho then, despite his protests, but the beast quieted down as soon as Ortho told the gluttonous creature he could eat both their shares.

"Are any of these what Yuu helped with?"

Jade leaned over Ace to point. "Of today's menu, Yuu assisted with the second, fourth, and fifth items of the entrees, and the third dessert."

"Cool." Ace said. "Hey Yuu, if it's good, you gotta be able to make it for me later!"

"I did make it for you guys! You ate number three last week when you slept over! They just, made it better here, because they have fancier meat and herbs and stuff- ah, Jack you've had the fifth one but I think they added leeks this time."

"Got it," he grimaced.

"We can just not put it in," Floyd said, looking very much the opposite of Jade with his bored expression as he lounged at the booth across the aisle. A grin suddenly came to his face. "Or we could just give it to ya raw, Urchin-"

"He jests," Jade smiled. "All pork and chicken dishes served at Mostro lounge are cooked to international food health and safety standards."

A server, trembling, came up to Floyd as he rolled his eyes, and said something that restored the grin to his face. He leapt to his feet-

And yanked Yuu into a hold that had them yelping and wrapping their arms around him for dear life.

Floyd laughed. "Azul wants to talk to ya!"

"I-I can walk-"

"Nah, this is more fun. Hmm? What? You wanna play, spadefishy?"

He had risen to his feet, an incantation on his tongue-

"I'm fine!" Yuu said, looking very not fine and like they'd rather have their eyes closed. "Y-you guys can ahead go and order! Eat ahead, I'll just- it should be quick?"

"Quick, huh?" Floyd grinned, and Yuu seemed to turn an ashen shade before they were taken into the dark depths of the lounge.

He glanced at the rest of the table of boys who were also staring at the latest Yuu-napping in various stages of 'not seated.' Ortho alone remained where he sat, gaze focused-

"Please excuse my brother's poor behavior," Jade said serenely. "I assure you, Yuu is safe. Do be seated."

They eventually did settle down, but only because Ortho reported that Yuu was, in fact, safe. They all eventually ordered, because Yuu wanted them to, but the food cooled untouched as they sat, staring down the way Yuu disappeared. (In his head, some terrible little part of him, seeing Sebek and his clenched fist and jaw, muttered even.)

At last, Yuu emerged from whatever corner Floyd had spirited them to, and only then did the knots in his stomach unravel. They were Floydless, but someone else was at at their side.

"My," said the fellow, peering at them all through his spectacles, "I believe those dishes are all best eaten fresh and hot."

"You guys didn't have to wait for me," Yuu said, but they smiled. "Wow, you guys ordered everything?"

"One of everything," Ortho chimed.

"Said we could!" Ace added.

Epel grinned. "That's what you always tell us to do when we head to town. Get different stuff so we can go samplin' right?"

"Don't complain for your own habits!" Sebek grumbled.

"And it is nice to try a lot of stuff," Deuce said.

Jack seemed to nod, or that might have been him helping Ortho keep Grim from diving face-first into a deep dish of pasta now that Yuu was here.

"How touching!" said the stranger, then pale blue eyes settled upon his. "And how strange. I don't believe we've met but. . .ah, where my manners?"

He stretched out a hand and smiled. "I am Azul Ashengrotto, Octavinelle's housewarden. You must be the transfer student Yuu mentioned."

"That would be me." He stood from the booth and shook the hand. "Skully Graves."

"You really do resemble the King of Halloween."

He tried not to keep his grip politely steady. Was that fraud really so popular in NRC? "So I've been told."

Azul painted quite the remorseful look on his face. "I do apologize for Floyd's. . .unruliness-"

"I think you ought to apologize to Yuu more than me."

"He did!" Yuu said, sliding back down into the couch. "Not that it stops Floyd -"

"You wound me, Yuu! Rest assured, you and your friends will be able to enjoy your meal in peace. Ah, and Skully?"

"Yes?"

Azul smiled. "I do have other matters to attend to at the moment, but when you're ready, please do inform Jade and he'll fetch me from my office."

Yuu leaned against him for a moment, perhaps seeking a solid tree. "Azul said he'd personally show you around."

"Why of course! We should put our best foot forward and let bygones be bygones. Wherever you end up, I'd be glad if you could say how welcoming Octavinelle was."

"You're certainly the most courteous. You and Yuu have been the only ones to formally introduce yourselves."

"Is that so? I'm glad to hear it. I hope you all have an enjoyable dining experience. I highly recommend the estofado- couldn't have done it without Yuu!"

"Yes, yes," Yuu said, reaching for the soup, and the others began to serve themselves too. "You're very sorry, very thankful. Now begone, witch!"

Azul chuckled and left. Jade followed suit, promising to return shortly and leaving a different Octavinelle to tend to the table in the meantime. Without the twins or its prefect, the staff seemed to breathe.

It was a lovely, lively lunch followed by a very informative tour.

~ ~ ~

Ignihyde was cold place. Beyond the air-conditioned halls, it looked absolutely empty. It was clean, the place smelling how one might imagine nothingness to. The lighting straddled the line beween dim and bright, making Ortho glow as he led them.

"Ignihyde pursues the diligence of the King of the Underworld." Ortho's voice echoed through the halls. "Our students work hard to innovate upon magical and non-magical fields of technology! Everyone here likes to focus on their studies or projects."

"Do you have a project, Ortho?"

"Not officially, but. . .I think it would be following my heart? Being myself and expressing myself!"

He smiled. "That's a fine project. Your heart seems like quite a bright one."

An airy laugh. "I'm happy to hear that, Skully Graves. Oh! I do have a side project. I would be grateful if you can help me with it."

"I'm. . .not too good with tech-"

"It won't require technical skill," Ortho reassured.

Yuu got a funny look on their face. "Hey, do you guys mind letting Skully and me and Grim go alone here?"

Ortho hummed. "That would be easier. . .the Ignihyde lounge is nearby, would you like directions to-"

"We got it!" Ace said.

"You do?"

Ace gave Deuce a look. "Just-" he made some hand gestures that probably meant directions. "Like it's hard?"

"I'm getting a bit turned around here," Epel admitted.

"Ace and I can figure it out," Jack said.

Sebek glowered. "Do not tell me what to do, human! I refuse to abandon the task that Lord Malleus has-"

"There's a board game there that Malleus Draconia has played."

Sebek paused. He stared at Ortho. ". . .The Gargoyle Game?"

"Mhm! Yuu enlisted the help of several board game enthusiasts in Ignihyde to create it."

Green eyes turned to Yuu. "You-?!"

"He's still playing it?" Yuu asked, looking pleasantly surprised. "It's been a while since I gave it to him."

"He tests us with it!" Sebek cried. "It has become a challenge of wits in Diasomnia! We are at the third inter- year level tournament and I have failed miserably at every turn to pass even preliminary rounds, while Silver has twice surpassed Master Lilia, and even challenged Lord Malleus! As there is only one board, I have been unable to practice-"

"There is a copy of it in the lounge," Ortho said. He projected a blueprint-like hologram. "It is on the upper level of the fourth cabinet from the right."

Sebek's eyes darted between Yuu and the promise of bettering himself at a game beloved by his beloved lord.

"I am perfectly safe here," Yuu said, smiling. "I'm sure you can trust Ortho and his lasers."

He blinked and stared at Ortho for not the first and probably not the last time. "I'm sorry, you have what now?"

"Lasers!" Ortho said cheerfully, like it was a completely ordinary thing to have.

"Ace! To the lounge at once!"

"Hey, stop dragging me-!"

"Wrong way, Sebek."

"Lead then, Jack!"

"I didn't expect that Sebek could get so obsessed about a game-"

"Ya know he's crazy for anything to do with Malleus right?"

"Might just be his pride."

Epel giggled. "Yeah, that too. . ."

Ignihyde really was an empty place. Their voices echoed even from the first floor.

"So. . .my Sub-Boss is a board game inventor, I hear?"

"One game," Yuu said. "It's just this sort of, chess, water puzzle thing-"

"That's one more than me."

"Ha! Ain't my henchman impressive?"

"Oh, welcome back to the world of living, Grand Boss Grim! I thought you'd be in a food coma for longer than that- your digestion's quite impressive too."

Grim yawned in Yuu's arms. "Where're we anyway?"

Yuu adjusted their hold on him. "Ignihyde. You slept through Azul's tour."

"Hmm. . . . . . .wait we're in Ignihyde?!"

"Yes."

"Lemme down, lemme down!"

"Nope, you'll run away-"

"Course I'm gonna run away! That fiery jerk's gonna put his grubby mitts all over my precious fur!"

"Just bear with it for a little-"

"Minion! Grand Minion! Help me!!"

"Do not."

"Alas," he said. "My direct orders have come in."

Grim groaned and went limp.

Yuu blew a lock out hair our of their face. "Are you done being a baby?"

"He's gonna treat me like a baby," Grim hissed.

"I treat you like a-"

"He ain't my henchman!"

Yuu sighed. "I love Henchman Benefits."

"I hate you."

"Aww. Love you too, Grim!"

Grim groaned. "Not enough to spare me. . .let's just get this over with. . ."

Yuu chuckled and cuddled Grim to their chest. He flopped his furry head on their shoulder.

"Am I a minion?" Ortho asked. "You allowed me to hold you earlier."

"You called him a Grand Boss at Mostro Lounge, yes?"

"Temporary Minion," Grim replied.

"Subject to lunch payment membership fees?" Yuu asked.

The beast grinned. "Yeah!"

He hummed. "We're gonna need a larger organizational chart."

"I can draft one!" Ortho offered. "Oh, we're here!"

"Wait, may I know what the proj-"

The door hissed open. "Hi, Big Brother!"

"Hey Ortho."

"I've brought guests!"

"You brought- O-Ortho I told you I don't-! H-huh? Oh. Ah okay. . .it's just Yuu and Grim-"

"And Skully!"

". . .who?"

"Skully!"

He felt himself be pushed forward by his shoulders and a fiery-haired fellow scrambled back as though he were some unsightly creature. Rude.

He smiled though. "Skully Graves. Nice to meet you too. . .?"

"This is my Big Brother, Idia Shroud! He's the housewarden of Ignihyde!"

"I see," he said, and didn't know quite what else to say.

Idia had much to say. "Yuu, why is there a rando in my room???"

Yuu walked over hands raised as Grim scurried away. "Calm yourself, man. We come in peace, he's a transfer student-"

"T-to Ignihyde??? Ortho, can't you do the intro, we made a video so I wouldn't have to-"

"Don't know where he's going yet."

"So why is he here???"

"Tour."

"Yuu. Yuu my room is not an attraction-"

"I thought I was here to help with a project-?"

"Yes!" Ortho beamed. "I'd like my big brother to make more friends!"

Idia let out a distressed sound, hair flickering all about him. "Ortho. You can't just, being friends is a bit-"

"I would also like him to know more people."

"Great. I know him. You. Skully. And now some rando knows about the Ignihyde prefect yay can you like, go now?"

He would, but at some point, the door behind him had shut.

". . .Ortho locked it?"

"He locked it," he nodded.

Idia sighed.

"Please remain for twenty-three more minutes and forty-eight seconds," Ortho asked politely.

"Yuu."

"Yeah, Idia?"

"You're a traitor to all introverts."

He sat on the ground. "Hey, I'm an introvert."

Idia glared at him. "What kinda introvert barges into another's room? You should know rooms are sacred."

"The kind asked by a nice floating boy to help with a project without knowing what the project is?"

Idia gave him a look. "You're totally faking it. I bet you're the kinda guy who goes about thinking you can solve everything, huh? Bet you make yourself other people's problems. You even made Yuu bother showing you around-"

"Idia," Yuu said. "I offered to take him around."

Idia huffed. Was that smoke? "And you let him in. . .can't I just have a life without people bothering me?"

"Oh, so Grim's not a person?"

". . .Grim?"

Grim had squished himself behind some cushions in the midst of the introduction panic. Yuu now extracted him from his hiding spot.

"Dangit !"

Idia sighed. ". . .Yuu."

"Yeah?"

"Gimme."

They dropped Grim upon him and he busied himself with squishing Grim's paws.

He grinned, flames settling.

". . .this is humiliating."

"Kyeehehe. . .to have a gwumpy kitty-cat saying that. . ."

"I believe Ortho took a video of Grim eating? Or videos."

Idia, for once, made eye contact with him. "He did?"

"I did! I will show you later! I also have an image of Grim after a failed spell fluffed him."

"So humiliating. . ." Grim buried his face in his own furry chest before glaring at Ortho. "You're no minion of mine!"

Ortho only seemed to laugh. Idia hummed and settled back down. Yuu sat beside the housewarden as the fiery boy messed with Grim. He looked at Ortho, and Ortho smiled patiently and apologetically with his eyes.

"Hey so uh. . ."

He looked up.

"I was. . . kinda in the middle of grinding some units before. . .this. Anyway, the triple EXP event's only up for today so I'm just gonna. . . get back to it. . .you stay there, or whatever.

Shortly after Idia dragged himself back into his chair, Grim on his lap, he stood and had a look at the screen. "What are you playing?"

"Tch." Idia slid into his seat. "Asking stuff. . .knew you couldn't be a loner-"

"Fine, maybe I'm an ambivert. Is that any better? I'm trying to be interested because your brother wants me to be."

". . .do you play anything?"

"If you mean video games like that seems to be, no. Didn't have the best internet connection for more than sites and forums back home."

Idia sunk into his seat and his jacket, the hood pooling around him. "Course you're a normie-"

"That's a new one. Is being normal an insult here?"

"Yep," Yuu said, now at Idia's other side. "Hey, is that a new skin?"

"Skin?"

"Outfit," Yuu explained. "Sounds more horrifying than it is-"

"Are you guys seriously just going to use me for learning gamer vocab now?"

"Of course! " Yuu said. "How else do we purge the normie from our souls?"

Idia groaned and glared at his screen. "If you wanna do something. . .hey Ortho."

"Yes?"

"Can you help that guy make an account on Stellaria?"

Ortho floated over. "Do you have a phone?"

Idia glanced at it when he drew it out. "Yeah that'll work. Might lag but just lower the display settings. Should take like, five minutes tops to set up."

He frowned at Yuu as they pulled out a screen from a corner. "What are we doing now?"

"Being used for manual labor-"

"Hey, ain't my fault the devs only let you get the limited-time items with constellacoin-"

"He means," Yuu said, powering the tablet. A sticker on its back spelled their name out. "That he wants to use us to send him friend currency to buy stuff. It's a free game, free to send. He just needs actual living people to make accounts."

"They've gotten better at detecting bots," Idia grumbled. "Nothing I couldn't crack but like. . .ughh."

It was a nice-looking game, for whatever his knowledge of them was worth. Yuu and Ortho helped him through making a character and sending a friend request to both Idia and Yuu's accounts. He then tapped a button that sent the constellacoin.

"Is that it?"

"Pretty much," Yuu said.

"I'm not sure how much a single measly coin will help-"

"Did ya wanna do something or just sit around a rando's room and stare at me?"

"Touché."

Touché, Idia mouthed from his mighty throne, his face bathed in the glow of his screen like some lich king, Freaking normie.

Yuu led him through the game and its systems. The game occupied half an hour, and probably would have kept them busy longer if Idia didn't ask if the door was unlocked yet. Ortho was unrepentant about muting his alarms. Yuu helped him up and oh, here comes the pins and needles. They shuffled out the door, Grim joyfully free at their heels-

"Bye, Big Brother!"

"Bye."

"See ya, Idia!"

"Bye, Traitor."

He raised his phone. "Should I keep playing this?"

Idia didn't look away from his screen. "Just. . .just send me the friend currency whenever. Or don't. Don't come back."

"Don't intend to."

"Cool."

The door slid shut, and locked behind them.

~ ~ ~

It was, in fact, a good idea to save Scarabia for later in the day. He could imagine how scorching the dunes must have been around noon, when a high sun would light them gold instead of the bronze they now were. Currently though, the sun wasn't so horribly hot. It probably also helped that they were never without shade for long- a magic carpet floated overhead like a very lively parasol and wagged its tassels whenever Yuu reached over and gave its surface a good tussling.

The treasure had zipped through the dormitory almost as soon as they arrived and swirled around Yuu and Deuce so quick he feared the two might get rugburn. Expressing such concern had the thing stand aside as it crossed its corners, sulking. Only after some petting of its topside by his host and being entreated to feel the fabric himself and proclaim it to be very fine and un-rugburny did it regain its cheer.

Grim alone sat atop the carpet as it led them through carpeted halls. One had to wonder if the magic antique envied the kin they trampled underfoot- it dipped near Yuu's feet sometimes, not quite tripping, but they politely declined to board it, no matter its insistence, until at last it settled for being an armrest beside them or hovering above them all.

They passed though walls of white stone and gold and came upon the high floor with rooms spread further apart, the level for third-years, perhaps.

At that point, it set Grim down, then wrapped around Yuu and him in a roll. Or a bodybag. In a second it hurtled through the hall, in another he heard a door slam open, then the rug flung them through the room before cushioning their falls with itself. It seemed very proud of presenting them both like wares at a market, a tassel even dusting him off and fixing his glasses. He couldn't appreciate its efforts much though- he was much too focused on staying very still with his arms propping him up as he tried not to crush the very nice Yuu below him.

"Um," he said, staring down as Yuu stared up, and he felt like he might have gotten sunburned after all-

"Sorry!" Yuu said, there was something at his side and hooking his leg and oh he was on his back now with his arms in the air like a cockroach and they had managed roll him somehow, alright-

"Yuu!"

A boy bright and ringing with gold pulled them up and into a hug. Another boy sighed as he stood on the ceiling. Floor. Was he still upside-down, why was he-

"Are you alright?"

"Ah uh, I will be, yes, just a bit frazzled-" he got himself to a steadier, less roachlike position and took the hand the boy offered, joining the fellow in standing and shooting the carpet a look. "You have my thanks. . .?"

"Jamil. Jamil Viper," said the boy with black hair and black within and below his eyes, and when they were both up, and had a good glance at each other, there was peculiar look on the fellow's face as he let go.

"Skully Graves," he replied, and maybe that odd familiar feeling at every other face here was natural, just the recognition of a magician meeting other magicians. (Was it normal for the other magician to look at his hand after like he'd held a bug though?)

Across the room, the other fellow had released Yuu too. The boy curled their hand around something, beamed as they pocketed it despite their reluctant expression, then hopped over to him.

"Welcome! I'm Kalim Al-Asim, housewarden of Scarabia! Sorry for the simple welcome-"

"It's alright, I like simplicity. Though the carpet could have been a little less. . .enthusiastic-"

The magic carpet drooped.

"Oh he didn't mean it like that," Yuu said, petting the dejected drape-

"I know!" the housewarden exclaimed. "When you get assigned, we can throw you a banquet!"

"Kalim," Jamil said calmly, long-sufferingly. "He may not even end up in Scarabia."

"It would still be something to celebrate!" Kalim said, sun-bright as stepped forward, bells chiming with his cheer. "We can have a parade and a band- it will be a fun celebration! What better way is there to show the meticulous planning of the Sorceror of the Sands than a party?"

"Kalim-"

"I'll plan it myself this time, promise!"

Grim cheered at the thought, and for once, his Grand Minion did not indulge him. He was beginning to see why Jamil exuded such an exhausted air. "I think you showed a warm enough welcome with the carpet-"

"Oh, did you have a nice ride? I can show you a fantastic view of the sky on it later! It's been wanting to- hmm?"

Through some charades and miming, the carpet conveyed something that had Kalim looking at Yuu like a kicked puppy and Jamil frowning.

Jamil sighed. "We sent the carpet over so you could ride it, you know."

Yuu shrugged. "Yeah well, it seemed kinda unfair to ride it if everyone else couldn't. And I didn't want to crush the poor thing under all of us-"

The carpet slid up to them and held its hands to its hips. Its tassels to its sides? It stood in a wide stance and posed the way a bodybuilder might, strutting through the room on its corners. When the others finally came in, it swept under Jack and Sebek and lifted them up.

"Hey!"

"What do you think you're doing?!"

The Savannaclaw tried to get off, but the carpet shifted to keep him on. The Diasomnian tried and failed to do the same.

Sebek glared, raising his pen."Why you-! "

Yuu snapped before Jamil could. "Sebek, that carpet is a priceless treasure do not hurt it or your lord and Lilia will be very disappointed!"

"Don't you dare presume what would disappoint my liege, human!"

But Sebek settled down behind Jack, arms crossed petulantly, as the carpet hovered up and down, a tassel flicking upwards in a bring it on! sort of way.

Deuce eyed the thing. "Does it. . .want us to ride it?"

The carpet nodded flappily, and accepted an Epel and rejected an Ace.

"Hey!"

"I think it might be a little pent up," Kalim said, watching it finally accept Ace only to try and shake him off as everyone else held each other to avoid tumbling to the ground. "Everyone's been too busy with exams to take it for a ride-"

"You still have a paper due. "Jamil gestured at the table where the two had been before the carpet burst in.

"Oh," Yuu frowned. They dug out their ancient phone, clicking through its menus. "I'm sorry, I thought you said you two would be free-?"

"I thought it would motivate him." Jamil crossed his arms and Kalim pointedly looked away to watch the carpet test its load-bearing capacity. "But he's barely gotten a paragraph down."

Kalim laughed nervously. "I guess I was too excited to meet Yuu's new friend! Oh yeah, congrats on being a Prefect of two, Yuu!"

"Temporary Prefect of a very nice two," Yuu smiled. "Should we come back some other time?"

"Ah but, you've already come all the way here-"

"Kalim," Yuu said, "Please do your paper."

The housewarden slumped. "Aww man, I wanted to show Skully around. . .you're related to the other Skully Graves right? I thought we could talk about Halloween plans-"

"That's almost a year away," Jamil cut in. "Compared to that essay, which is due tomorrow-"

"You can show them around, Jamil!"

Jamil gave an almost-glare. Kalim merely smiled.

"You're better at being a guide! And since I really want to join you guys, maybe I'll end up speeding though the essay!"

"Writing that way won't make anything of quality-"

"But at least I'd have a draft down, right? Then I can polish it later!"

Jamil stared him down. Kalim smiled back.

". . .you better have at least five hundred words before you come to us."

"Five hundred? Got it!"

"Make that eight hundred-"

"What? Jamil," Kalim whined-

Yuu leaned over and whispered something in the housewarden's ear that made him light up.

"Promise?"

Yuu seemed to hesitate then, but stretched out a hand. "If you do a thousand words not counting whatever you have right now-"

"Deal!" Kalim shook their hand. "I'll do a thousand and one even! No going back on your end, okay?"

"Yeahhhh," Yuu smiled, a little strained, and whatever deal they struck was accompanied by a thump that had them all looking over at the corner with the carpet and all it carried.

The magical thing squirmed but would not lift, pinned to the ground. Ace stepped off and it floated, showing that its capacity was, apparently a Jack, a Sebek, a Deuce, an Epel, an Ortho, and a Grim. Deuce stepped off and Ace got on, and it went thump again.

Ace glared at it. "Oh come on! Why is Deuce fine? He bleached you once!"

Jamil's head spun. "He what-?!"

"M-Malleus fixed it!" Deuce stammered. "The carpet got into the labcoats when I was cleaning with Azul's detergent but-"

Kalim laughed. "It must have really enjoyed the ride Deuce gave it. He helped dry it by hanging it on a blastcycle!"

Jamil's eye seemed to twitch. Kalim walked over and kneeled beside the carpet as it carried the first-years.

"Guess what?" He said cheerily. "Yuu said they'll ride you!"

The carpet promptly dumped its passengers in a heap of yelps and grunts before zipping over to Yuu. It bowed in half before lowering a corner to the floor expectantly. The rest of its tassels were positively vibrating.

"It's awfully fond of you, isn't it?"

Yuu boarded the carpet. "I shampooed it once- oh, can Grim come?"

Yuu yelped a little as it jerked forward to grab Grim and fling the beast (who also yelped) into their arms. They seemed to hug Grim rather tight.

"Are you going to be fine?"

Yuu smiled stiffly. "I can stand a few feet. . .I trust it more than a broom."

The carpet fanned itself with a corner at that, like a delighted, flustered maid. It was truly an expressive piece of fabric.

"Would you like to ride too, Skully?" Kalim asked. "You're the guest of honor here, after all!"

He tried to put the tangle of limbs he and Yuu had been out of mind. "I think I'll politely decline."

"I'd like to-"

The carpet curled up away from Ace and he frowned at the Heartslabyul. "What did you do to it for it to hate you so?"

"Well," Yuu said, "after I washed it and dried it and brushed it, Ace said there wasn't a difference-"

"You're still bitter about that?!"

"Let's get on with the tour then," Jamil said. "If the rest of you won't follow, please do leave Kalim so he can focus."

The housewarden frowned. "I can focus with company-"

"Thousand words, Kalim!" Yuu reminded, as they floated by. "Thousand wo-w-where are you going. Carpet. Carpet where are you-?!"

There was a shriek as it slipped through the stone pillars of the room's windows and into the sky in what was the third kidnapping of the day.

Kalim ran to the window in a jingling flurry. He cupped his hands as he stood upon the banister and shouted, "CARPET NO ! NOT THAT KIND OF. . .oh no, I think they're too far."

"Get off that," Jamil snapped, tugging the housewarden back into the room so he wasn't standing somewhere so precarious, unlike poor Yuu, then pulling Kalim out of the way of a storming Sebek.

"Yuu will be fine," Jamil told the bristling boy calmly, though irritation lurked at its edges. "The carpet won't hurt them."

"I should have told the carpet to stay low," Kalim lamented. "Yuu only wanted to ride it around the halls-"

"I'll intercept them!" Ortho declared, and flew through the window.

"Do you have a broom?" Epel asked quickly.

Kalim pointed at a rather expensive-looking broom by the closet and the Pomefiore yelled a thanks as he grabbed it before joining the blurs in the distance.

There was a chorus of chimes and the others drew out their phones.

"They're bringing them back," Deuce said, and grimaced at the video. "Trying to."

"From the east," Ace pointed. "So that way?"

Sebek bolted, his voice echoing after him. "I SHALL SECURE THE AREA BEFORE THE WEAK HUMAN FAINTS! "

"I see them!" Jack jumped out the window then, and a wolflike shape dashed across the ledges and palisades towards the growing blur from the sky.

Ace stared. "Yeah, I'm not doing that."

"Come on !" Deuce grabbed his dormmate and dragged him through the normal people route.

He followed after them, and Jamil after him, and when Kalim tried, the door shut and Jamil called out, "Do the paper!"

They arrived just in time to see the carpet plummet into the fountain.

"Yuu!" He ran up to the fixture, but they were nowhere to be found.

"Over there!" Epel called above him, and when he followed the boy's hand, he found Yuu in Jack's arms on a roof.

"You are grounded." Jamil's words were as pointed as his pen as he cast a spell. The carpet tried to leap out, but fell into a miserable, wet pile when it tried, and relented to floating in miserable, wet circles around the fountain's basin.

He turned back to Yuu. Ortho and Epel carried them down to the waiting Heartslabyuls and Sebek. Jack landed after, and he followed Jamil to the crowd. Yuu was alive. And shaky. And seemed to have squeezed half the life out of Grim. Deuce pried the beast from their grip and Grim wheezed.

They were taken to a lounge full of ornate cushions and rugs, the latter of which thankfully didn't seem to spark any new terrors in Yuu despite their very recent experience at the knots of one. Yuu lay down on a carpet that was blissfully un-magical, and simply stared at nothing for a while.

"Would you like to go to your room?" Jamil asked gently.

"Just. Just leave me here. . ."

". . .very well. I'll bring some tea to settle your nerves."

They lifted a shaky hand in a shaky thumbs-up. "Thanks Jamil you're the best."

Jamil turned to him. "I'm afraid I'll have to postpone the tour-"

"You can cancel it, if you'd like. No offense, but I don't think we could stand another bout of excitement like this."

"None taken," Jamil said, and disappeared towards the kitchens. Ace followed, asking what calming tea was best and insisting on snacks to bring since Yuu had gotten at least a little sick from the spin. Epel poked Grim, making sure the beast was alive, and the others kept an eye out for any more rogue rugs while occasionally glancing at their somewhat-catatonic friend.

He looked down at Yuu, and he had the most ridiculous urge to move them onto his lap despite them having a perfectly serviceable and definitely more comfortable pillow beneath them.

"We can go to Ramshackle, if you'd like?"

Yuu blinked at him. They smiled slowly, weakly. "I'd like to finish showing you around. There's only one left, anyway."

". . .if you're sure, but don't push yourself, alright? At this rate, my heart might stop before yours does."

"Oh no. I can't believe I'm killing my new dorm member on his second day."

"Must be a new record, killing two in one blow. We'll be immortalized in the school records forever."

They hummed at the thought. "Mute you on the first day, kill you on the second- what do you think will happen on the third?"

"Exorcism, I suppose?"

They let out a laugh. "Can I have your hand?"

He was confused, but far be it from him to deny his host and a three-time kidnap victim. He gave him his hand and they held it carefully, hand looped around his palm, two fingers at his wrist. They held him a while like that, and he wondered if they'd notice if he curled his own fingers to try to find their pulse-

They sighed. "Guess we'll have to find some other record to break. You seem pretty alive." Yuu seemed to squeeze his hand then. It was good, if they had the strength for that.

"I'd hope so," he said. "Or I'd have the unfinished business of being sorted, and Ramshackle might find itself with four ghosts."

Yuu smiled warmly at him. "I think I wouldn't mind you haunting me."

"Likewise. But let's not jinx ourselves. We've a dorm left, don't we?"

They did, but before they set out, they had a pleasantly peaceful spot of afternoon tea and pastries. Tour or not, and potential future at Scarabia or not, Jamil managed to be rather knowledgable over the snacks. The carpet, at some point, dragged its sopping self over from the students Jamil had ordered to fetch it, and it apologized in its own miming way before it was taken to be hung. Kalim came by just in time to see them set off for the mirror, apologizing profusely himself. Yuu declined the invitation to rest and stay for dinner and overnight, and he declined the same when Kalim turned those red, sparkling eyes to him. The dormhead's sorry demeanor didn't stop until Yuu sighed and stretched out a hand.

"You did finish your essay right?"

Kalim nodded and pressed another box into their hand. Yuu pocketed it and he hugged them, then they went on their way. Kalim waved beside Jamil as they left the dorm, inviting him to stop by anytime.

~ ~ ~

Heartslabyul was calm. After everything at Scarabia, he was sure Yuu appreciated it. The air was fragrant with roses, then with the smell of tea and books and sweets. There was a kind of refined chaos to the building and its layout, but it wasn't impossible to parse. One might think that Yuu's group having two Heartslabyul would mean that this tour would be the best yet. Unfortunately, those members were Ace and Deuce, and so, somehow, Yuu became the guide. They led everyone through the winding maze and even its curling corridors with ease, mentioning rules here and there as they did.

"Are you sure you're not a Heartslabyul?"

They smiled. "Nah, I just hang out here a lot."

"How allowed are inter-dorm visits?" As they travelled through the dormitories, he hadn't seen many students within but their native ones.

"It's allowed," Yuu said. "I know, I checked, most people just tend to stick to their own."

"Yeah, kinda embarrassing to get lost in someone else's dorm. . ."

"Do you speak from experience?"

Deuce stalled. "Ah, er-"

"I got lost as heck the first time I went here by myself," Yuu admitted. "Had to like. Wait where I was and eventually Cater found me. . .after an hour. . ."

Ace let out a laugh."I still don't get how you got to the roof."

"I thought I was going downstairs but the downstairs went upstairs- oh that's the bastard!"

They pointed at an inconspicious-looking flight of descending-looking stairs.

"That's the devil?" he asked.

"That's the devil," they nodded.

"You hear that Grim? You're a bunch of stairs."

He snorted as Grim pawed at Ace, the redhead keeping his hand on the cat's forehead as his claws shredded empty air. "My, that sounds familiar."

"No idea what you're talking about," Ace replied cheekily.

"If you became lost, it is your own fault for daring to venture alone!"

Yuu pouted at Sebek. "Hey, I had Grim!"

"Yeah, they had me!"

"Grim," Ace said. "Raise your right paw."

The cat raised his right paw a milimeter, then hesitated and began to raise the other, then looked back to his right- 

Ace snickered.

"Quit it!"

"It's okay, Grim," Deuce said, giving the beast a commiserating pat. "I also get mixed up sometimes-"

"Which way does the sports field curve when we run it?"

Deuce blinked at Jack. "It's- it's-" it took him a few seconds and raising his hands in L's, muttering L is for left until he answered.

"Unbelievable!" Sebek grimaced. "Your basic human knowledge is atrocious-"

"I know my directions!" Epel protested.

"Raise your right hand!" Ortho directed.

Epel did.

"Left."

Epel did that too.

"Which side of the road do you drive?"

". . .in Harveston or-?"

"Oh, hello, Yuu. . .and the rest of you. May I ask why you're all standing around the hall?"

"Nothing!" said Ace and Deuce hurriedly, which made a red-haired boy who just arrived squint at them suspiciously.

Yuu smiled though. "Hi Riddle! Skully, this is Riddle Rosehearts! He's the head of Heartslabyul. Riddle, this is Skully Graves! He's new to NRC. We're showing him around."

Riddle stared at him. He stared back, something like anxiety trickling through him. Somehow, he felt more scrutinized than at Pomefiore. He kept a pleasant smile though, until at last, Riddle seemed to realize they were staring and stepped forward with a slight nod.

"Nice to meet you, Skully."

"Likewise," he nodded back.

Riddle turned to Yuu. "I wasn't informed about a new student-"

"Neither was I," Yuu shrugged. "He hasn't been assigned a dorm yet, gonna go to the Dark Mirror later this week. Maybe Crowley planned to tell you day of?"

"Of course he would," Riddle sighed turned to him. "I hope you've had a pleasant time, so far?"

"Very much so. It helps that Yuu and their friends have been lovely company. And they've been a wonderful host!"

"Host. . .have you been living at Ramshackle?"

"Yes? Is that a problem?"

Riddle looked between the two of them, incredulity in his eyes-

Yuu smiled. "Hey, it's been fixed up for a while now! 'Actually livable,' as you said."

"That's not- may I ask if you do have magic?"

"I do."

"Do you have a pen?"

"I think Crowley said I'd receive one once I'm sorted?"

"Unbelievable! If you have magic, he should have had you sorted right away instead of- " Riddle seemed to look at Yuu, for a moment. "It's dangerous to be a student without a magestone!"

"Well actually, I do have a magic counterweight-" He tapped his glass-frames. "Not the best for spellcasting, but it does absorb blot."

"Still, to leave you in that place. . ."

"I find that place rather comfortable."

"I don't mind hosting," Yuu added.

"Are you certain?" Riddle frowned. "There are rules about transfers being able to stay at their future dorms. If he's undecided, we could make use of his potential future at Heartslabyul to have him roomed here-"

Ace scoffed. "Gonna cram him in a room with other freshies already?"

He smiled. "I think I'll remain at Ramshackle, if it's all the same to you."

Riddle was looking at Yuu properly now. "If the Headmaster just- left him to you, without warning-"

"That is what the crow did, but I don't mind. Honest! Skully's good company!. . .but I don't mind either if- Ramshackle is pretty out of the way, so-"

Yuu looked at him with a small smile. "I am glad to have you! But I won't take it personally, if you'd rather be at an actual dorm-"

"Absolutely not!"

He placed his hands upon their shoulders and looked them in the eye.

"Even if I had a whole room to myself here, how could I possibly abandon my Sub-Boss-"

"And Grand Boss," Grim said.

"-and Grand Boss? If you'll have me at Ramshackle, then I'll be at Ramshackle until I'm made to go! Besides. I've yet to be of any help and by the Greats and Skellington himself I refuse to go back on my word!"

". . .Skellington?" Riddle muttered.

"A figure of a very old, very localized legend, doubtful that you'd know him-"

"Actually, the name sounds a bit familiar-"

"Does it? Oh you you will not believe how delighted I am to hear that! He's the true King of Halloween, you know! Him, Jack Skellington, Pumpkin King! His story used to be the most celebrated legend in my hometown! Do you know of-"

Riddle was staring at him. So was everyone else, in the sudden quiet. At some point, he'd gone to clasping Riddle's hand in his own.

He promptly let go, and cleared his throat.

"A-anyway, I'm very pleased to know someone else might have knowledge of my little town's myths! I'd love to hear where you might have heard of Jack Skellington! Perhaps we could share what we know over tea sometime? Much later, I mean. I'd still like to stay in Ramshackle."

". . .I suppose that can be arranged." Riddle said, wiping his hand in a way that was probably meant to be inconspicuous. "I am quite curious now, though I'm not sure what I could contribute to such a discussion. I must have heard that name somewhere but. . .I can't seem to recall any specifics."

"Ah, well." Don't get too down now. "It could have been someone else altogether. . ."

"You know," Deuce said. "For a moment there, you sounded like Sebek."

"I do not-!"

"Replace the skeleton guy-"

"Skellington," he corrected.

"-with Malleus," Ace finished.

Sebek fell silent.

The silence lasted a blissful three seconds.

"No! My overwhelming admiration for Lord Malleus would not have me disparage other respectable individuals of great importance, such as Master Lilia!"

"Disparage?" Epel asked.

"The King of Halloween is Skully J. Graves-!"

"Ah yes, my unfortunate namesake. He wasn't that respectable you know. Or that well-known. I'm frankly surprised that so many of you even heard of him."

"We didn't," Riddle admitted. "Well, I certainly didn't. But last Halloween, the Headmaster found an old painting with him told us about its history."

He smiled. "Ah but of course, the history of Skully J. Graves, King of Halloween, I'm sure, and nothing at all about who he stole his crown from."

"He is not a thief!" Sebek insisted.

"And how would you know that?"

"How would you?!"

"I think I'd know more than you. How long have you known about him ? Four months? Five?"

"Hey," Deuce looked awkward to have said anything at all. "I know Headmaster Crowley isn't like, the most reliable guy, but for him to make that up-"

"Who says he lied? Perhaps he did do all those things, he went around, revitalized Halloween- but history isn't just rewritten, history gets lost, and my town's traditions, the ones he claimed to love, have been nearly blotted out to serve his own image."

Epel frowned. "If you don't like im you don't like im, but doesn't he deserve some credit?"

"Sure!" He grinned. "Let him claim the title of your beloved King of Halloween, and let him claim the title of thief and upsurper while he's at it!"

Sebek glared. He returned it with calm gaze that only made the fellow's glower deepen.

"That's a little harsh, don't you think. . .?"

Yuu was looking at him, an uncomfortable look on their face.

"Sorry," he said, and didn't feel a letter of it. "I suppose that if you're named after someone you don't particularly like and look like someone you have no great love for and hear all your life about what an incredible person he was, even somewhere beyond the only town he should have any relevance in at all, it gets on your nerves a little."

. . .his voice must have rang most shamefully around Heartslabyul. Everyone was looking at him and he of course they were, he was standing there, a brash, noisy idiot and-

Breathe. You're making a scene.

He breathed. He fixed his glasses.

He smiled at Riddle. He minded his volume. "I apologize of the outburst- I believe Yuu mentioned some rule about not raising one's voice? I'll take my leave now."

He didn't wait for an answer, or to be excused, he truly was a mess but he had to go. He spun on his heel and shouldered his way through Yuu's friends. He remembered well enough, the way they came from-

"Skully-"

He must have glared when he glanced back, because Yuu flinched. He tried to look calm, to school his expression into something softer and more agreeable, but at least resolved to just keep moving forward.

Yuu followed despite his pace. He took a turn, but they followed.

"I'm sorry," they said-

"You didn't know," he replied curtly, turn here then-?

"Still, I should have- I could have-"

"Asked? Why would you? You didn't know it would bother me. You couldn't have known."

". . .still. I'm sorry."

He glanced back and how he hated that look on their face-

He breathed and stopped. He crossed his arms. "What are you apologizing for? You only tried to be friendly and helpful. I'm the one who threw a tantrum."

"It makes sense that you'd be upset-"

"It doesn't make sense that you blame yourself for it. You're my host, not my keeper-"

"You didn't like it, when Azul said you resembled him."

. . .he wondered if it were possible to crack his own humerus like this, gripping himself. Perhaps he might fall apart into a pile of bones as the earth swallowed him up for carelessness.

"When Kalim mentioned him too," Yuu continued, at his silence, "you had this look, on your face. It's the same one you had yesterday, when you came in and I said you looked like him."

Yuu sighed. "I should have known by now, is what I'm saying. I should have changed the conversation or-or something. So I apologize for that."

"Yuu-"

"Not just- not just that though. In my head, I kept comparing- I kept, wondering, I guess, if he would have acted like you, and that was horrible of me, wasn't it-"

"Yuu, it's not a crime to think things. It's hard not to be compared, what with the name and the face- it's- it's fine, really, I'm used to it! I just made a fuss, for no reason-"

"You have a reason-"

"Not a good one!" He sighed, the last of his irritation leaving with his breath. "Look, I. . .I shouldn't have gotten upset, much less here, in front of everyone. . . I apologize, for being so disrespectful. It must have reflected poorly on you to have brought me here just for me to make such a scene in front of another prefect. . .I'm afraid you have two members with tempers under Ramshackle n-"

He stayed very still. Yuu was warm, as they held him. He tried to keep his hands to himself.

"It seems you've had some trying times," they muttered. "I'm sorry if I made it worse."

. . .slowly, stiffly, he put his arms around them, careful of his nails, of the way his fingers wanted to claw into them.

"I'm sorry too," he said, and it was more murmur than the sincere apology he meant for it to sound like.

They stayed like that for a while, in some empty hall. Something about the embrace against the dim light felt terribly familiar and terribly sad.

". . .do you still want me at Ramshackle?"

They shifted, slightly

"Rosehearts did offer. I must have been a sight, but I can swallow my pride and ask him if-"

They squeezed him, face in his side. "You're still my friend. I still want you around. Don't turn me into a parrot. "

". . .alright, Yuu."

Footsteps approached then, and they untangled themselves.

Yuu's friends crowded around them. He stood a good few feet back, and he deserved the distance, the looks shot his way. Riddle apologized for letting other's behavior get out of hand because Heartslabyuls or not, they were in his dorm, and he waved it off while apologizing for his own sensitivity and overreaction. The others were wary as they left Heartslabyul, but Yuu walked right beside him.

"Can you tell me about Jack Skellington?" they asked, smiling as they always did. "The name seemed kinda familiar to me too."

. . .it might have been pity. It might have been them trying to be nice, doing their job-

You're still my friend.

"Well, I'm not sure how much you know, but he's the first and true King of Halloween. He started the tradition ages and ages ago. Do you know Halloween wasn't always so festive?"

"How was it then?"

"Nothing at all like what you call Halloween today. The colors and sweets are nice and all, but it used to be quite the austere affair! All black and grays, no treats or tricks. A sombre time to reflect in silence-"

As he spoke, he found the prim and proper posture he'd been holding since Riddle slipping away. His voice grew loud now and then, he leaned and loomed like a willow as his hands flapped about- and Yuu listened, and asked, and smiled as he did.

Back at the Hall of Mirrors, he stopped to thank Yuu's friends. He apologized once more, and that seemed enough for most of them. Some contact numbers were exchanged and farewells bid, Sebek still glared, then they all slipped away back to their dorms.

He and Yuu went back to their own dorm, him chattering all the while, Yuu carrying Grim and indulging them both.

For all he complained of it, it was a shame the path to Ramshackle weren't longer.

Chapter Text

How was this possible? 

They knew of Halloween. They said so, hadn't they? They did, and he had been so excited to find kindred spirits. . .he couldn't have imagined all that- so many speaking of the event like it was a common holiday, the joy he felt when he heard it, yet they all. . .

All of them agreed on the broad strokes of their Halloween traditions, and not a single one of their customs was suited for the day he held so close to his heart.

Was it even truly Halloween, if it was all candy and colors and costumes? Where was the solemnity? The reflection? What were the chances that it was some other celebration entirely, some different event when ghosts would cross and the names simply ended up the same? But even if it were a different occasion, Jack Skellington himself approved of it, so how could he possibly protest now? 

He watched the others discuss and write down their plans. They were outsiders to this place just as he was, but familiar with one another, if not friendly. Even the one he thought picked upon in the bunch was at ease with the others. . .

. . .really though, why was he surprised? Wasn't it always like this? He's always the strange one, always the blight, because of what he loves and what leaves his mouth. 

Even here then, in his beloved Halloween Town, with his beloved idol whom only he recognized, despite the others and their boldness in putting forth their Halloween, he was still. . .

"If it's any consolation, I liked yours better."

He blinked. Yuu stood before him. 

"Your Halloween," they smiled. "It sounds nice"

He stamped down the little bit of hope that flickered in him. Isn't it pathetic, that he can be pitied by the most pitiful of that group's party? But he ought to be the bigger man here, so he smiled, as a gentleman would. 

"Thank you. I'm glad someone else here can appreciate what a true Halloween ought to be like."

"I don't know about true, but it seems peaceful," they said, their eyes and expression so sincere that he felt like he swallowed a stone, for thinking it hollow pity. "More manageable too. I haven't really celebrated Halloween much, at home. I think it might be nice to give your version a try though. . . and I think some reflection would be nice and healthy."

Their eyes drifted behind themself at that, to the others, and his own eyes drifted to their hands. There wasn't any magic in them, but the marks looked like inkstains on their scarred skin-

They looked back at him and he halted his staring and his assumptions. If they were bullied, they wouldn't be so at ease with the others. But then, he was practically a stranger, and they seemed at ease with him right now, so perhaps that's simply how they were with everyone. He didn't feel any of the apprehension the others seemed to harbor for him and oh dear he's stared silent and stiff like a scarecrow too long, they're turning away-

"Thank you, by the way." They weren't quite looking at him, but their lips were curled in a small smile. "For looking out for me earlier."

. . .oh. Oh they're-

"Think nothing of it! I only wished to emulate even a sliver of the chivalry of the great Jack Skellington!"

They ventured to meet his eyes, though a flush still tinged the tips of their ears. "And the hand-kissing is a part of that?"

"Indeed! What better way is there to greet lovelies such as yourselves?"

Yuu furrowed their brows. "I would have thought Mister Skellington couldn't kiss anyone, what with him being a skeleton and all. . ."

"That's. . !" 

. . .does the King of Halloween have lips with which to kiss? Certainly that magnificent boney jaw moves and stretches as easy as clay- but was that sufficiently akin to skin? To merely tap one's teeth against another's hand- surely that wouldn't count as a bite- Jack Skellington couldn't possibly do anything so- so crass-

Yuu's laugh pulled him from that perplexing puzzle.

"I'm sorry," they said, without looking all that sorry, but he didn't feel all that ireful about it. "I didn't mean to make fun of you-  I think it's kind of charming! You should be a bit more careful though. It might be impolite for some here, and some tempers might spike."

They wrung their hands a little as they spoke, then their fingers curled, nails seeming to catch against a callus. He leaned over then, and lifted one of their hands to his lips.

"Thank you for the warning, my dear."

Their other hand curled against their chest. "Ah well, warning's kind of a strong word. . .I-"

He really shouldn't assume. At the call of their name, Yuu skittered back to the others too easily to be a fellow outcast, their hand slipping from his. Their friends fretted over them, the red one checking their hand, the green offering his gloves. . .they are thoughtful fellows. Jamil Viper is considerate too, even if the notes the boy tries to retrieve from him are for naught when Sebek Zigvolt snatches the parchment away to have their backs for canvas. Yuu scolds as Viper does at the rudeness, and nobody comes to blows. 

. . .why do they sit so forlorn then? 

Somewhere in the theatre of the town hall, Yuu's found a dim, dusty corner to settle down. One would not find a more melancholy figure in the darkest room on Halloween night. 

He stepped forward, and the floor creaked, but Yuu didn't stir. 

The voices of the others were distant, and something was strange about Yuu's figure-  

Was their hair always so long? Had they changed out of their suit? 

"Yuu?"

They startled, twisting to face him, their eyes wide-

His heart leapt in the dim candlelight, and the hand that reached for their shoulder slipped to their jaw as his knees hit the ground.

"Yuu! Yuu, what happened to you? Are you-?"

He's shoved away, his breath knocked from him. Cold floor met his palms, cold air filled his lungs. His mouth was dry as he sat frozen in a dark room, staring at Yuu.

Yuu blinked, their hands still raised, their countenace mortified as they covered their face. 

"S-sorry I. . ."

Through hands stained and rough, he could glimpse the silver of the scar below their eye, the discolored patch on their other cheek. A candle flickered nearby, shadows catching in the hollows of their fingers and face and receding as the flame danced, and he quickly snuffed the fire to plunge the room into shadow.

"I-I didn't see anything, if that's- if that's why you're-" Light trickled in through the gap in the curtains. He turned away. "I'm so sorry, Yuu, I didn't mean to barge in here like this and-"

What was he doing here? Was this their room? It seemed too bare for such a thing. But he shouldn't have been wandering around to begin with-

"I'm sorry I pushed you." Their voice was soft, raspy even. "I was just- you just surprised me."

He tried to swallow the lump in his thoat. He still felt awfully cold and hot and ashamed. "I. . .I really didn't mean to snoop around, honest, I wasn't trying to- I don't know what I was trying to do, I don't even know where we are right now. . .I think I was sleepwalking. . ."

Sleepwalking. It might be the truth but it sounded like a horrible excuse all the same when he hasn't had a fit of somnabulism since he was a child. He wished he could wake up from this. Maybe he was still dreaming. He should slam his head into the floor, he should pluck his eyes out, he should-

"Are you okay?"

. . .he turned his head towards them, the blurry shape of their small form.

"It must have been a shock-" Yuu made a sound, sniffle or laugh he couldn't tell- "to know your prefect isn't as pretty as you thought. Not exactly a noble or elegant face, I'm sure-"

"I've seen worse."

". . .yeah?"

"I ah-" This is horrible. He can tell this is going to be horrible, but he has to say something or they're going to think he's a liar (bigger liar, they know you saw) and this silence will choke him before the embarrassment will-

"My uncle runs a funeral parlor. And he married a mortician. I uh, help them, some summers. And the bodies- they well- they have stories."

He should have suffocated in silence. You're not as bad a a corpse. Simply superb wordsmithing there, that surely is a compliment to one concerned for their visage-

"I'm not as bad as a corpse," Yuu echoed. They seemed to slump further, and there was that soft, laugh-sob puff again as their shoulders shook, and he should be publicly executed and put in the ground-

.  . .there was a weight, on his arm, as Yuu leaned against him. "You have a funny way of cheering someone up."

Their voice sounded light, but his chest twisted anyway. 

"I'm far more concerned with how it happened than how it looks. Are you alright?"

They sighed. "It's fine. I'm fine, really. . .can you help me find the candle?"

They bumped into him as their hands patted around for the candle and its holder, and once it was in their hand, he heard the click-hiss of a lighter as their face came into view. 

". . .are you certain you're alright with me seeing-?"

"You already are, aren't you?"

"Admittedly I did a little, earlier, but-"

He pictured the dresser in his room. He flicked his hand, once, twice, and finally got his glasses between his fingers. 

"There we go!" he said, holding it up. "Haven't seen you with these yet, so if that's any comfort, I could just, keep not looking at you with-"

Yuu took the glasses, shook them open, and planted the thing on his nose. Their bright eyes came into focus.

"Oh," he said dumbly. "There you are," he said dumbly.

" . .hello, Yuu," he also said dumbly, when he realized he was staring.

Yuu just smiled. "Hi, Skully," they said, then flinched. "Hey um, do you want me to call you Skully? If there's anything else you'd rather go by-"

Right. That afternoon he-

"I've tried nicknames and other aliases, but alas! Try as I might, no other name fits me like a glove. Feel free to call me Skully."

"Alright then, Skully."

They smiled and mumbled something of cats and bags as they shifted around to sit back the way they were when he saw them, only now they faced him. The candle was set between them, and a scar carved its way across their cheek. On the other side of their face, a ripple of skin was stained like their hands. The patch trailed past their lips, melding into its margins, and dripped to their neck like a molten thing.

"That. . .that looks new-"

"It's not." They drew a necklace from their pocket. They found its catch and wore the chain around their neck with practiced ease. The pendant slipped beneath their shirt, then Yuu looked at him with a face free of harm and raised hands just as clear. "Ta-dah."

He tried to smile, because they surely wanted him to smile, but he knew one would have better luck finding a snowdrop in summer.

"Your hand," he said. "Your hands felt, not that I was trying to feel your fingers, specifically -"

"You have Azul to thank for that. Well, this. " Yuu reached over, fingers lacing through his. "He studied octopi for a spell for textures and colors. Can't even tell the difference, right?"

His other hand cautiously drifted over theirs, but they didn't wrench their hand back when they saw it. "I suppose so, though it's hard to tell without a control group-"

"Oh. Guess you have a point there." Their other hand was at their neck, and the necklace off again before he can protest. 

Their hand was in his then. It was scarred and stained, and somehow, worse than he expected. But it would be rude to say that, after how much he's imposed already, how much they're letting him see to satisfy his concern that was likely teetering terribly close to impudent, morbid curiosity. So he didn't comment on that, and instead raised the hand, squinting seriously at the fingertips.

"Didn't take you for a black-polish person."

That got a laugh. "I used to leave them plain, but that stuff's bitter. Cater got it for me so I'd stop chewing my nails. And if I chewed it anyway, Trey would see it on my teeth and nag about it."

"I see." He heard too, or seemed to hear, that their voice had a trembling edge to it without the necklace. "Your friends care about you an awful lot."

"They do," Yuu said readily, smiling soft at their nails, and his eyes found themselves on that large patch again-

"Does anything hurt? My mother was a witch who dabbled in medicine and she was quite concerned about me heading all this way by my lonesome- we spent a good week just picking herbs and brewing a caseful of remedies. I've a whole jar of numbing cream, if you'd like-"

"Maybe when I run out of the stuff from Leona and Vil."

"Vil. . . Vil Schoenheit, Pomefiore housewarden?"

"That's the one! You know, he's- oh wait you mentioned bad internet right? Well Vil's a model, so I trust him. He gave me like a bar's worth of serums and formulas I'm supposed to slather on myself to help with. . . all this. Oh yeah, please don't tell Vil what you said about this looking new, he'll press and figure out that I skipped The Regimen like twice last week and he's been trying very hard to find something that works better-"

"That necklace doesn't trick him?"

"Not even a little."

He sighed. "What an unfortunate Sub-Boss I have, tormented through a marination of all manner of arcane brews-"

They chuckled, and their hand squeezed his for a moment in their mirth. "Well, it's self-inflicted. The cream torture's self-inflicted I mean, not- anyway, Vil was already busy with it before he- before the instruments of torture increased, and I thanked him for it then and I haven't told him to stop yet and I should just get used to The Regimen since it's for my own good."

He frowned. "Does it hurt that badly? Not to step on Schoenheit's toes, but if he's routinely giving you the same stuff, you could have developed a tolerance-"

They took their hand back to shake both as they shook their head. "Oh no, he accounted for that. It's more the fading he's concerned with, or finding a good- what was it again? Something to do with covering. . . " Their nails drummed against floor. ".  . .coverage. . .er. . .coverer. . .?  Concealer, I mean, think that's what it's called."

"Ah, he has no faith in Azul's gift?"

Their gaze fell to the floor, their voice seeming softer. "Well neither do I, if magic's out of the picture and- well it would be good to have something else to deal with this, just in case. Can't depend on the necklace all the time and my parents might get heart attacks if they see. . ."

He looked at them, curled into themself as they were before, when he thought this all a dream, and the ache in his chest was less a pang and more stabbing, growing twinge that was tinged with his useless sympathies and, oddly enough, thorns of aimless irritation. But then their eyes flickered to his, and they sat up, smiling cheerfully, speaking loud and quick-

"Or it could just be vanity, you know. I know there's something to be said about poetry through the histoires that can get written in someone's skin, but I cannot be trusted with textures I want to scratch and -"

"Well if we're speaking of vanity, I dye my hair."

Yuu paused. "You what?"

"I dye my hair," he repeated, smiling blithely at the topic he has no reason to be smiling that blithely about, but if they prefer a distraction then-

"It grows in white, actually! White as webs and lilies- it's a curious thing, the albinism wasn't expected though there had been a few in my mother and father's trees that had it. I was born with a puff of white on my head, and so with my Graves eyes and ghostly hair, my dearest Mother must have thought I resembled that painting we have of old Skully J. Graves the first. I believe I started trying to dye it in elementary. My first go at it was simply a tragedy-  I'd snatched my uncle's extra-strong dye only to apply it wrong and uneven! I looked like I turned a pot of ink on my head for weeks and I refused to let anyone touch my hair in the aftermath. My old man had me convinced that my only options were growing out the dye or shaving my head entirely, and he and I had many a discussion those days about skeletons and baldness but my young self was resolute that baring one's cranium was for the skeletal like Jack Skellington and since I had skin like Sally, I ought to have my locks, badly-stained as they were."

Yuu smiled and leaned a little closer by the end of his tale, and after, they raised the candle a fair distance to illuminate his hair without igniting it. "Seems like you got the hang of it eventually."

"Eventually." He ran a hand through the inky strands. "That's the key word here. I was so sure I'd get it right by myself one day. And that day came. After a year. And a half. Eventually."

"Eventually," Yuu chuckled, but their eyes met his only for a moment before flitting away. How unpleasant it must be, to be seen like this when they didn't mean to be. Perhaps just not yet, perhaps not ever. 

"To be honest," they said slowly, as they though they hadn't been so terribly vulnerable already, "Vanity isn't. . .the only reason. . .why I panicked, when I saw you here."

"You don't have to share anything you don't want to," he began, but Yuu shook their head. 

They took the candle, and something else seemed to pluck at their voice and warp their smile. "No this- this is only going to get worse the longer I don't mention it." 

Before he could say another word, they stood and lifted the candle towards the wall, only it wasn't just a wall, but-

". . .is that-?"

Yuu sucked in a breath through their teeth, and suddenly, their face didn't seem to bathed in warm colors just because of the candlelight. "A painting of Skully J. Graves the first? Yep."

The painting smirked down at them with dramatically-curled hands and a narrowed eye of amber that mirrored his own.

"Has that been here this whole time?"

Yuu nodded mutely, still looking very sheepish, still not looking at him.

". . .do I want to know why you have a painting of that in Ramshackle?" And why there seemed to be a sort of shrine below it, with half-used candles and a bowl of candies on the table, and what Yuu was doing here, in the dead of night in a fairly barren room that couldn't possibly be their bedroom-

". . .do you?"

Oh. Yuu was looking at him. And looking like they wanted to die. He didn't particularly want to die anymore and neither did he want them to implode from one might generously call an odd situation, but certainly, without answers, he'd be making his own with his insomnia, and he'd probably make some unkind ones while he was at it.

"Yes actually, I would like to know."

Yuu drew in another breath and left the candle on the table. They clasped their hands together.

"Well, last Halloween, the Headmaster dug this up and thought to display it during the event. I thought it would be a waste to send the thing back to the storage room once Halloween ended. It couldn't talk so I thought it might be awkward to set the painting with the other paintings who do speak. So I asked the crow if I could bring him to Ramshackle, and he agreed. So I brought him- brought it here, with Sebek's help, and it has been here ever since. And I wipe the frame and I put candles up sometimes, because that's what we do at home for dead people and it's mostly smokeless candles so there shouldn't be much soot, and I put candies because. . .Halloween, I suppose. I don't know what else I should put. . ."

"Alright that's. . .my sentiments about the King of Halloween aside, that's rather sweet of you." 

It was sweet. It very much was, and it would have warmed his heart if he died and Yuu had it in them to treat another Skully, one less famous or infamous, with such care. It did warm his heart, strangely enough, even if the dead they were caring for was an impostor-

"And," Yuu continued, as though held at gunpoint. "I was here, am here. . .at night. . . in this room. . .with the painting. . .becauseIliketotalktoitsometimes."

". . .you talk to it?"

Yuu made a sound as they covered their face. "Yes I- I know it's pathetic, but sometimes I just wake up or can't sleep and I want to talk to someone and I- and I don't want to bother Grim and my friends are usually asleep and I know they'd pick up and talk if I called because they do when I do, but I can't go to them for everything, and the Ghosts have their jobs, and I just- it's nice to talk to someone. . .something, even if it can't really hear. . ."

There it was again, that breathless feeling when he first saw them. There were things he needed to say, but the only one he could reach was their name. 

Yuu tore their hands from their face at the sound of it, and their words were like shards of glass for what they did to him- painful and sparkling in equal measure as he grasped them.

"I swear I- I didn't bring that painting in just to talk to it! That just. . .happened." They stepped forward, then back, then didn't seem to know what to do with their hands as their voice grew more strained. "And after today I was going to- to lock up the room so I'd talk to it less! Or like, move the painting somewhere or cover it or- I was going to do something about it, since you hate him, and I didn't want you to think that I'm treating you the way I do just because of him- of it, and I. . .I was only here, tonight, because I . . ."

They were small- their form as they clasped their hands, their voice sounding so sorry and guilty-

"I guess I just wanted to say goodbye."

. . .there was something wrong with him. 

There had to be, because he wanted to laugh. 

He'd been raised better than this. He was better than this. Here Yuu was, clearly distressed, confessing to confiding in a painting of his loathed namesake as though it were some lurid crime-

And all he wanted to do was hug them and laugh.

He must be going mad.

Madness would have to wait though.

"Yuu," he said, stepping closer-

They looked very much like they wanted to be anywhere but there. "I'm sorry I promise I wasn't trying to hide it, I wasn't trying to send you off to Heartslabyul I was going to tell you eventually I-"

"Yuu," he said, and he had to wonder if the surprised look on their face was because he had his hands on their shoulders, or because his horrible laughter was coloring his words. 

"I am not going to deny that it's a little strange. So what, though? So, you talk to a painting. Why, I used to pretend I could talk with Jack Skellington and Sally and all the frightening folk of Halloween Town!" 

Granted he used to do that when he was much younger than Yuu was, but he wasn't living apart from all his peers, alone in a large building save for ghosts and a fiery beast that couldn't quite hug him back.

". . .you're not. . .bothered, that I-"

"Something about it itches, but if it were a painting of anyone else, I don't think I would even give it a second thought."

Unfortunate incidence, that it was not a painting of anyone else that Yuu ended up being drawn to. Unfortunate coincidence that he ended up being in the same building as that portrait at all, and that now some amorphous amalgam of indeterminable feeling was lurching all about his insides. But that was something he could dissect later.

"If it makes you feel better to talk to some painting, don't let me stop you. It's not I hate him entirely either, I. . .I just wish he could have spread some of that original Halloween, alongside the lively one so common now."

It was lovely to see costumes and lanterns alight and have sweets aplenty- it would just be nice if some Halloweens, others might find the same charm he did an an old custom he found in ancient pages.

"I can stand to share a roof with another Skully Graves. It's no slight against me. We haven't even known each other for three days. You shouldn't-"

Get so worked up about this. Be near-tears, because of this. He didn't even mind, and he- 

Greats and Hallows' Eves and Skellington afar, something downright manic was threatening to twist his lips because Yuu cared. Yuu cared so much about that stupid painting and they cared about him enough to want to lock it up and be so worked up to tears about it, and he had no right to feel so frighteningly fond of them for it but well who gave them the right, to be so unreasonably endearing-

"-we're practically strangers to one another, is what I'm saying. You shouldn't hold my opinion in such high regard."

Yuu's eyes landed on his hands on their shoulders, why was he still keeping his hands on their shoulders, and they managed a smile at him. 

"I thought we were friends, though?"

. . .DAMMIT-

Yuu squeaked as he pulled them into a hug, and he did embrace them because he really wanted to, but more selfishly also because there was a stupid grin on his face that rivaled the one on the wall and hopefully Yuu couldn't see it now.

"Yes, yes of course we're friends!" He held them close and tight and mindful not to lift them off their feet and don't you kiss their head, you reprobate-

His hand still found its way to the back of their head though, and as it traitorously carded the strands, he just couldn't help but marvel at the fact that they were here and real, this stranger who didn't feel like a stranger, who seemed at least a little diseased with whatever condition was ailing him to be so affectionate, because they actually hugged him back. 

"I can't believe you're not mad," they whispered, "Or freaked out, or-"

"How could I think any less of you for something I've done myself? I suppose there's simply a certain charm to a King of Halloween, regardless of who holds the position, that draws in lonely souls-"

. . . his arms turned rigid and he stiffly smiled as he released Yuu enough to smile politely at them. "Not that I think you're lonely-"

"I was talking to a painting, I think that speaks for itself."

"Nothing wrong with that." Maybe something a little wrong with him, with how little he cared. However, he also pulled them into a hug again as though his arms were magnetically attracted to their back, so there were probably a great many things wrong with him that he just couldn't bring himself to care about right then.

"I do hope you'll reach out and talk to someone who can talk back though. Your friends care an awful lot and you have an awful lot of them, I'm sure you could set up some kind of schedule if you're afraid of pestering one too much- and I'd like to think I number among them, the friends you'd talk to, if you need someone to talk to, not that I mind if you do or don't choose to speak with me, though I'd. . .I'd be glad to give you any bit of comfort. . .it's the least I can do, after. . ."

After someone so sweet and considerate's been left to rot here under the guise of charity and safety, left to suffer who-knows-how-many nights on their lonesome with only a painting for company, because they were too sweet and considerate to bother another living being. 

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I wish I had gotten here sooner. I wish I could have been around, to give you someone to talk to, or just someone else to talk to, or just be there, or-"

Their arms tightened around him. "You're here now, aren't you? "

The floor was cold and the room smelled faintly of smoke and sweets they were warm and there and as he hugged them, he was so glad, that it wasn't a dream.

"Yes," he smiled into their hair, "Yes, I suppose I am."

Chapter Text

He'd woken up happy. Even tired, from the past few nights more restless than not. Even with the surely-trying day ahead, his first as a Night Raven-

He'd opened his eyes feeling that quaintly cheerful, content way one only does after a pleasant dream. He'd reveled in the curious peace of it as the rest of his brain roused itself. He'd been idly pondering the cause of it when he was promptly poisoned with panic.

He couldn't tell why. Why his heart suddenly pounded in a manner he only ever knew as fearful, or why he so frantically sprang from his bed to dash into the hall-

He simply panicked, and ran, and barely caught himself before he could fling the door open. The door to Yuu's room, he noted, and that dawning horror jolted him to full wakefulness if everything before hadn't already.

He stared at the door before him, his body frozen, his hand still reaching for the knob. His hand should have been springing back as though the brass were molten metal, yet it lingered. He lingered, and so did that strange fear in him, and that damnable desire to throw open the door to-

To do what, exactly? There was no fire, no earthquake, no emergency. Nothing to warn them about, nothing to say for himself either, if they'd suddenly open the door and catch sight of him. He had no reason whatsoever to barge into their. . .!

. . .he'd. . .he'd just done that, hadn't he? Into their room, or, or a room in Ramshackle at least, last night, he had-?

Memories of the night before trickled in like candlewax into cool water- something soft and warm settling into shape, details growing sharp and distinct and cold in his mind.

He'd walked into a room Yuu'd been in. He'd intruded upon their privacy. They'd felt compelled to divulge things about themself and had a terribly uncomfortable time and had been terribly nice to him the whole while and somehow, instead of getting a slap to the face, it had ended in an embrace between them both before an amicable parting to their respective rooms.

And here he was now. To what? To to do it again?!

He'd swear if the sound wouldn't possibly wake them, assuming his clomping down the hall hadn't.

He breathed, forced his hand down despite the ridiculous, improper, persistent urge to open the door, and crouched to erase the evidence of his blunder. Yuu had the habit of keeping their shoes in the hall right outside their room, and the pair had been knocked askew in his hurry and had he stepped on one? Had he crushed it, somehow? The left seemed shorter than the right but they seemed the shape shoes should be but he shouldn't be found in front of their door, examining their shoes like some partialist so he set them in place and returned to his room, the only room he had any business being in while he's a mere guest at Ramshackle.

It was dim, the sun still making its leisurely way up the horizon. It was quiet, save for his own breaths and muttered curses.

What was wrong with him? There was something wrong with him, there had to be. Is this what happens to him the moment he has a friend? He goes around wanting to pester them first thing in the morning?

His hands ran through his hair, wanting to yank the strands out, wanting to dig his nails into his skull and pluck out every unchivalrous impulse there was in his cranium before he could a mess of things.

He breathed. He thought. He paced.

He ran to their room, because. . .because he was afraid? What's there to be afraid of? Yuu had nothing to fear, besides a near-stranger and miserable excuse of a new friend wanting to disturb them so soon after he'd imposed upon them already. He was being a terrible guest. He was in no place to enter any of the rooms but the one they'd given him, and yet-!

. . .and yet, he still wanted to open their door. And then what?  See them in their sleepwear? Say hello, I desired to see you in your pajamas in the daylight! Why? I don't know, I couldn't tell you if I tried!

. . .he did want to see them. Just a little, just to make sure that- that something, there had to be something, some reason beyond simply seeing them. It's not like they were going anywhere. They both lived in the same building for the time being, and he could wait until they passed one another in the hall for polite, properly-dressed greetings!

He groaned as his hands slid down his face, and what a sight he must make in the mirror. He didn't particularly want to grab his glasses to check. Yuu would certainly like to see him barge into their room even less. He should stop thinking about all this, and get ready for the day.

He did. He tried to. But there's just something worrisome about it, isn't there? How strange he's been. He can't just chalk it up to a new environment, can he? And to let it bother Yuu when they're already so. . .

. . .there's something troubling about that too, isn't there?

Their scars. Their voice. The extent of it.

They're not new, they'd said, but some of it seemed like blot was involved, to mark their skin like that. And here, at Night Raven College, where some of the most magically-gifted and most uncouth of the gifted congregate-

No no no, he's being uncharitable! Unreasonable. He's looking for excuses and justifications for his own unjustifiable behavior, heaping blame upon students he's never even met. (But fear's a little like worry, if he's to be a little charitable to himself. Isn't there cause to worry? Perhaps Yuu just had terrible luck to make their friends crowd about them so, but if not then-)

His alarm clock rang. Useless, as it always was.

He got ready, got dressed, got himself together, hopefully, and went downstairs.

~ ~ ~

Well wasn't this familiar? The staring. The relief. Those two weren't supposed to come together though, were they? Yet as the edges of that terrible feeling that took ahold of him smoothed over, other points seemed to sharpen at the sight of them. He couldn't guess why that scattered sentiment shifted any better than he'd know why it came. It simply did the moment he saw Yuu.

He smiled before he could be caught gawking any longer. They hadn't their necklace, after all.

"Good morning!" he greeted.

Yuu blinked slowly at him from the doorway, a drowsy direbeast in their arms. For a second, they didn't stir, only stared at him like a stranger-

Their lips curled in their small smile.

"Morning, Skully," Yuu said, and the latest little shard in his chest melted just as it began to ache. "You're up early. . . did you get any sleep?"

Not really, but he shouldn't say that. He shouldn't worry them, after he's been such a burden, and he definitely can't let them think he's blaming them for stealing his rest. If anything, they should be more upset at him for intruding and straining their voice to indulge him.

He turned to the stove as they entered the kitchen. "I think I slept quite well, actually! I'm only up because I thought, hmm, Yuu's fed me plenty since I arrived. I ought to return the favor! You said I'm at liberty to use whatever I like from the refigerator, but I hope you don't mind me rummaging about the pantry. I haven't much in my luggage but some seeds and spices, you see. There's nothing around here that will kill you, yes?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh um, allergies. I mean-"

"Oh! " They let out a soft laugh. "No."

He grinned. "Splendid! Then, I hope you'll be able to enjoy this meal with no murders or exorcisms to follow."

They hummed from over by the kettle. "I don't know," they said playfully, pouring into a cup of herbs to make something that resembled bog mud in sight and scent. "Maybe you still want revenge and decided to sneak something in there."

He gasped. "And smear the good repute of the Graves family pumpkin pie? I think not ! My ancestors would turn in their tombs!"

"Pie?" Grim asked, nose twitching, head lifting-

"And good morning to you, my fine, gluttonous Grand Boss." He plated the tuna omelette and placed it before the beast, whereupon the meal begans its rapid, messy descent into Grim's maw.

"Are those vegetables in there?" Yuu whispered.

He ventured a glance away from the stove. "Rats! You've uncovered my evil ploy to poison our devil with heathful, arcane herbs!"

"What happened to no murder?"

"Fear not, he shall pass this trial by greenery if he proves himself pure of heart and clear of colon."

Yuu chuckled. "Oh no, I can feel my soul returning-"

"Oi, Minion! Eat!"

"I will, I will! Have you eaten yet?"

"Ah. Well I had a few bites in between-"

They shooed him away towards the table. "Go and sit, then! I'd be a terrible host to let you starve-"

"L-let me rescue the pie first, at least!"

They stood by the stove and let him busy himself with the oven. The pie was placed at the side of the table furthest away from Grim, lest the drooling beast plunge into it face-first. Yuu plated some eggs then searched the drawers for knives at his request, and he moved the pan to the sink before the oils could dry up-

The sound of silver against ceramic had him glance back. Yuu admired the generous portion of pie before their eyes, the pastry held aloft upon a plate, then sliced it again before delivering it to the awaiting Grim.

"What's the verdict, boss?"

Grim took a great big mouthful, and his ears and their fires picked up. He wondered if Grim had to chew at all, or if the creature was merely an engine that turned food to energy at the first lick of fire, because the chunk of pie quickly disappeared

"Not too shabby!" Grim declared.

"My, that's high praise, coming from a connoisseur of Heartslabyul's confections!"

Yuu reached over with their fork, but Grim batted them away.

"Still too hot for ya!" Grim scolded, and Yuu rolled their eyes but backed off. He half-expected Grim to swallow the rest of the pie then, but their beastly boss had the self-control and mercy to stick to his portion as Yuu sipped their tea. They lifted their eyes to him, then lowered the cup with a smile.

"Skully."

"Yes?"

"Faucet?"

He scrambled to shut it, apologizing. They didn't have to pay for the utilities, did they?

"Are you sure you got enough rest? I'm sorry for keeping you up-"

"Don't be! It was. . .I enjoyed our chat, actually." More than he should have. He focused on sitting down, on filling his plate.  "My mind's just been a little occupied as of late."

"Is it anything I can help with?"

They seemed to be part of the problem but that was also something that shouldn't trouble anyone but him and him alone. "I appreciate the thought, but I'll sort it out myself."

"If you're sure," they said, then ventured a slice of the pie. Their eyes lit up, smiling at the sweetness. Then the nectar faded, and they made a somewhat-perplexed face as they pulled the petal of arachnia from their lips. He'd told them it wasn't very good on its own. It was more for neutralizing, than for flavor. He wondered if being willing to try anything remotely edible was Grim's influence, or something the beast learned from-

"Is that cinnamon? "

Yuu smiled at their plate.

In the morning light of the kitchen, they only held a fork in their hand. There wasn't any arachnia here. Why would there be, when such a bloom was only needed for things as pungent as frog's breath? Pumpkin pie doesn't call for such things, and this wasn't even the environment for such an herb-

"Skully?"

He blinked.

Yuu frowned. It passed as quickly as it came.

Yuu quickly turned their head, hands behind their neck as gold flashed. "Sorry, it must have been distracting-"

"Oh no, not at all! I didn't mean to stare! My thoughts were elsewhere, truly, I should have been more mindful I-"

Had a vision. Or a hallucination. He never had them before, unless dreams in the midst of half-conscious somnambulistic episodes counted. Did that worry them? He wasn't a violent sleepwalker but what would they know of that? Yuu paused despite the chain  already fixed upon their neck, only half-facing him with their stained, glamored cheek towards the wall. Their eye darted to him, and their small, hunched shape must do something to Grim, because the direbeast glared-

"I suppose I have a confession to make!"

". . .a confession?" Yuu echoed, and Grim-

Grim jumped on the table, forelimbs crossed. "Nuh uh, Yuu's my Minion! Ya can't have 'em!"

His puzzlement lasted for but a moment.

"Oh no, I wouldn't dream of swiping the Great Grim's finest follower from right under his nose! I simply meant- well I- I was in a rush this morning, and I think I stepped on your shoes. I was wondering if ought to tell you or, or if you even noticed-"

A half-truth's better than lie surely, or a verity unreasonable and unnerving.

"-you've been nothing but kind to me and I haven't been as good a guest as I thought I'd be-"

"A-ha!" Grim exclaimed. "So that's why ya made a pie!"

". . .well I was planning on it since yesterday, but I suppose it would be a lie to say I didn't think it might curry some favor now."

Turned back to the table, Yuu blinked. Then, they let out a sigh of a laugh before smiling. "Don't scare me like that! I thought it was something more serious!"

He hid his own smile with a mask of deepest distress. "Is ruining my dear boss's footwear not a serious matter? It seems a punishment that warrants polishing a hundred pairs of shoes!"

They waved their hand as if to bat away the notion, or perhaps the giggling bubbling out of them. "No no, you didn't do anything! My legs are just- my legs are- well, one of them is shorter than the other. Well, longer. Well- I guess that's the same thing. So my shoes are a bit wonky! I guess it's only normal that you didn't notice earlier, from way up there-"

He had a hand to his chest as he hung his head. "Oh I should have asked for the Grand Minion handbook! I'm certain it would have informed me to kiss the paw and heel of my superiors, so I could acquaint myself with their illustrious footsteps and footwear-"

"Don't look at me, I'm only following my boss's lead with manual-less minion training!"

"Hey! I don't need a manual! And you turned out fine!"

"Oh, but I failed to properly train my minion!" Yuu said, looking between them with great anguish. "And he stepped on my shoes!"

"And I stepped on their shoes!" he nodded. "Because they failed to train their minion! How could they, with such a poor role model? This is your fault, Grand Boss Grim!"

"M-me?! Wait, aren't ya supposed to shine a hundred boots now or something?!"

Yuu frowned, but it was struggle through the grin warping it. "But I don't have a hundred boots."

"So I have to make them first?" He withers, drooping so low his nose nearly touches the table, his head in his hands "Oh I knew I should have taken up the vocation of a cobbler!"

"Okay okay, you're-" Yuu paused to catch their breath, only for their words to still come colored by their laughter.  "-you're pardoned."

He blinked, head raised, eyelashes fluttering. "Really ?"

They looked away, grinning, hand shielding their eyes as though the mere sight of him would make them break into greater hysterics. "Let's just say you paid for it with the pie."

He beamed and cast an appreciative gaze upon the tin still mostly pieful on the table. "Saved by sweet cinnamon and pumpkin puree- why, it's just as my forefathers foretold!"

Yuu let out another snort that they failed to stifle. "Stop, you're gonna make me choke-"

"Oh and I was doing so well at no murder-"

"Skully."

"Yes, Yuu?" he replied, and they tried to glare, but any resolve dissolved once they peeked through their fingers and saw him sitting there, hands folded neatly upon the table, an utterly innocent look upon his face.

Yuu broke into another bout of full-bodied laughter, and Grim whacked him with his tail. "Stop killing my Minion!"

"Oh God, am I crying?"

"Happy tears, I hope? That's the secret ingredient of the Graves pumpkin pie, you see, any other type of tear sprinkled atop it simply won't-"

He raised his hands in true surrender and a poor attempt at defense as Grim launched himself at him. Yuu somehow wrangled their clawful, trident-tailed, fiery fury of a boss off of him with minimal scratches and scorches to his person, and he was perhaps more twisted a person than he realized to not even mind it all that much, to be smiling in the aftermath as Yuu fretted over him.